CII. Book IV. Prayer of an Afflicted One for Mercy on Himself and on Zion. 1909-14. The Book of Psalms. The Harvard Classics

Nonfiction > The Bible > Harvard Classics > The Book of Psalms

CONTENTS · BOOK CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

The Book of Psalms.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Book IV

CII

Prayer of an Afflicted One for Mercy on Himself and on Zion

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is 1 overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah.


[1]	HEAR my prayer, O Jehovah, And let my cry come unto thee.
[2]	Hide not thy face from me in the day of my distress: Incline thine ear unto me; In the day when I call answer me speedily.
[3]	For my days consume away like 2 smoke, And my bones are burned as 3 a firebrand.
[4]	My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.
[5]	By reason of the voice of my groaning My bones cleave to my flesh.
[6]	I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.
[7]	I watch, and am become like a sparrow That is alone upon the housetop.
[8]	Mine enemies reproach me all the day; They that are mad against me do curse by me.
[9]	For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping,
[10]	Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: For thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.
[11]	My days are like a shadow that declineth; 4 And I am withered like grass.

[12]	But thou, O Jehovah, wilt 5 abide for ever; And thy memorial name unto all generations.
[13]	Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; For it is time to have pity upon her, Yea, the set time is come.
[14]	For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity upon her dust.
[15]	So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory:
[16]	For Jehovah hath built up Zion; He hath appeared in his glory.
[17]	He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, And hath not despised their prayer.
[18]	This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise Jehovah. 6
[19]	For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; From heaven did Jehovah behold the earth;
[20]	To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those 7 that are appointed to death;
[21]	That men may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem;
[22]	When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.

[23]	He weakened 8 my strength in the way; He shortened my days.
[24]	I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations.
[25]	Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands.
[26]	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:
[27]	But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end.
[28]	The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee.

Note 1. Or, fainteth. [back]

Note 2. Or, in smoke. [back]

Note 3. Or, as a hearth. [back]

Note 4. Or, is stretched out. [back]

Note 5. Or, sittest as King. [back]

Note 6. Heb. Jah. [back]

Note 7. Heb. the children of death. [back]

Note 8. Another reading is, afflicted me with his strength. [back]

CONTENTS · BOOK CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Click here to shop the Bartleby Bookstore.

Shakespeare · Bible · Saints · Anatomy · Harvard Classics · Lit. History · Quotations · Poetry