The Book of Psalms

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 102 -

The prayer of the afflicted

The prayer of the poor man, when he was anxious, and poured out his supplication before the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to thee.

Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, incline thy ear to me. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily.

For my days are vanished like smoke: and my bones are grown dry like fuel for the fire.

I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I forgot to eat my bread.

Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my flesh.

I am become like to a pelican of the wilderness: I am like a night raven in the house.

I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the housetop.

All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised me did swear against me.

For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.

Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up thou hast thrown me down.

My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass.

But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all generations.

Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come.

For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.

And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory.

He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition.

Let these things be written unto another generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord:

Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.

That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might release the children of the slain:

That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem;

When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the Lord.

He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of my days.

Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation.

In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.

They shall perish but thou remainest: and all of them shall grow old like a garment: And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed.

But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.

The children of thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall be directed for ever.

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.”