Chapter 102

  A Prayer of the afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.  

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  Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me.  

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  For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.  

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  Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.  

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  From the voice of my sighing Hath my bone cleaved to my flesh.  

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  I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.  

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  I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.  

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  All the day mine enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.  

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  Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,  

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  From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down.  

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  My days as a shadow [are] stretched out, And I -- as the herb I am withered.  

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  And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial to all generations.  

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  Thou -- Thou risest -- Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come.  

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  For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.  

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  And nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour,  

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  For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour,  

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  He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.  

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  This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah.  

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  For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively,  

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  To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,  

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  To declare in Zion the name of Jehovah, And His praise in Jerusalem,  

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  In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms -- to serve Jehovah.  

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  He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days.  

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  I say, 'My God, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations [are] Thine years.  

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  Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands [are] the heavens.  

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  They -- They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed.  

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  And Thou [art] the same, and Thine years are not finished.  

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  The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!  

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