Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.
A Prayer of the afflicted when he is weak and 102:0 Ps 142:2pours out his complaint before the Lord.
1 Hear my prayer, Lord!
And let my cry for help come to You.
2 Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
Incline Your ear to me;
On the day when I call answer me quickly.
3 For my days have ended in smoke,
And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
4 My heart has been struck like 102:4 Lit herbagegrass and has withered,
Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of the 102:5 Lit voiceloudness of my groaning
My bones 102:5 Lit have cleavedcling to my flesh.
6 I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the ruins.
7 I lie awake,
I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.
8 My enemies have taunted me all day long;
Those who 102:8 Or made a fool ofderide me 102:8 Lit have sworn by mehave used my name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And mixed my drink with weeping
10 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a 102:11 Lit stretched outlengthened shadow,
And 102:11 Or as for me, II wither away like 102:11 Lit herbagegrass.
12 But You, Lord, 102:12 Or sit enthronedremain forever,
And Your 102:12 Lit memorialname remains to all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
For it is time to be gracious to her,
For the appointed time has come.
14 Surely Your servants 102:14 Or have foundtake pleasure in her stones,
And feel pity for her dust.
15 102:15 Or And So the 102:15 Or Gentiles, heathennations will fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth, Your glory.
16 For the Lord has built up Zion;
He has appeared in His glory.
17 He has turned His attention to the prayer of the 102:17 Or nakeddestitute
And has not despised their prayer.
18 102:18 Or Let this be writtenThis will be written for the generation to come,
102:18 Or And That a people yet to be created 102:18 Or willmay praise 102:18 Heb Yahthe Lord:
19 For He looked down from His holy height;
From heaven the Lord looked 102:19 Lit towardupon the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To set free 102:20 Lit the sons of deaththose who were doomed to death,
21 So that people may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days.
24 I say, "My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days,
Your years are 102:24 Lit in generation of generationsthroughout all generations.
25 "In time of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 "102:26 Lit They themselvesEven they will perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.
27 "But You are 102:27 Lit Hethe same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 "The children of Your servants will continue,
And their 102:28 Lit seeddescendants will be established before You."