Chapter 102

  A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.  

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  Hide not thy face from me in the day [when] I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day [when] I call answer me speedily.  

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  For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.  

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  My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.  

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  By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.  

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  I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.  

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  I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.  

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  Mine enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are mad against me are sworn against me.  

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  For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,  

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  Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.  

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  My days [are] like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.  

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  But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.  

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  Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.  

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  For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.  

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  So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.  

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  When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.  

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  He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.  

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  This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.  

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  For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;  

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  To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;  

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  To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;  

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  When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.  

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  He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.  

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  I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years [are] throughout all generations.  

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  Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands.  

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  They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:  

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  But thou [art] the same, and thy years shall have no end.  

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  The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.  

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