Psalms 101

¹The prayer of the pauper, when he was anxious, and so he poured out his petition in the sight of the Lord

²O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my outcry reach you

³Do 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

⁴For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood

⁵I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread

⁶Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh

⁷I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house

⁸I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof

⁹All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me

¹⁰For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink

¹¹By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down

¹²My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay

¹³But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation

¹⁴You will rise up and take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come

¹⁵For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land

¹⁶And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory

¹⁷For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory

¹⁸He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition

¹⁹Let these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will praise the Lord

²⁰For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth

²¹So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain

²²So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem

²³while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord

²⁴He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days

²⁵Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation

²⁶In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands

²⁷They 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

²⁸Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline

²⁹The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age