The Book of Psalms

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- Chapter 102 -

The prayer of the afflicted

The prayer of the pauper, when he was anxious, and so he poured out his petition in the sight of the Lord.

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my outcry reach you.

Do not turn your face away from me. In whatever day that I am in trouble, incline your ear to me. In whatever day that I will call upon you, heed me quickly.

For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood.

I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread.(a)

Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh.

I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house.(b)

I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof.

All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me.

For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink.

By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down.

My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay.

But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation.

You will rise up and take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come.

For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land.

And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.

For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory.

He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition.

Let these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will praise the Lord.

For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth.

So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain.

So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem:

while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord.

He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days.(c)

Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation.

In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you remain. And all will grow old like a garment. And, like a blanket, you will change them, and they will be changed.

Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline.

The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age.

Footnotes

(a)101:5 This last part refers to those who separate themselves from the Eucharist: they dry out like hay and are cut down, and their hearts wither.(Conte)

(b)101:7 A pelican, etc:I am become through grief, like birds that affect solitude and darkness.(Challoner)

(c)101:24 He answered him in the way of his strength:That is, the people, mentioned in the foregoing verse, or the penitent, in whose person this psalm is delivered, answered the Lord in the way of his strength: that is, according to the best of his power and strength: or when he was in the flower of his age and strength: inquiring after the fewness of his days: to know if he should live long enough to see the happy restoration of Sion, etc.(Challoner)

The prayer of the afflicted

Hear my prayer, LORD! Let my cry come to you.

Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.

For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.

My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.

By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.

I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.

My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.

For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,

because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.

My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.

But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.

You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.

For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.

So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory.

For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.

He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.

This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,

for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,

to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,

that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.

I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.

Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.

But you are the same. Your years will have no end.

The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”