Psalms, 101
A prayer for one in affliction: the fifth penitential psalm.
Domine, exaudi.
[1] The prayer of the poor man, when he was anxious, and poured out his supplication before the Lord. •
[2] Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to thee. •
[3] 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. •
[4] For my days are vanished like smoke, and my bones are grown dry like fuel for the fire. •
[5] I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I forgot to eat my bread. •
[6] Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my flesh. •
[7] I am become like to a pelican 1 of the wilderness: I am like a night raven in the house. •
A pelican: I am become through grief, like birds that affect solitude and darkness.
[8] I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the housetop. •
[9] All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised me did swear against me. •
[10] For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping. •
[11] Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up thou hast thrown me down.
[12] My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass.
[13] But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all generations. •
[14] Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come. •
[15] For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof. •
[16] All the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. •
[17] For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory. •
[18] He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition. •
[19] Let these things be written unto another generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord: •
[20] Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.
[21] That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might release the children of the slain: •
[22] That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem; •
[23] When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the Lord. •
[24] He answered him in the way of his strength 1: Declare unto me the fewness of my days. •
He answered him in the way of his strength: That is, the people, mentioned in the foregoing verse, or the penitent, in whose person this psalm is delivered, answered the Lord in the way of his strength: that is, according to the best of his power and strength: or when he was in the flower of his age and strength: inquiring after the fewness of his days: to know if he should live long enough to see the happy restoration of Sion.*
[25] Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation. •
[26] In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.
[27] 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. •
[28] But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail. •
[29] The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be directed for ever. •