^{1 Ref} A Prayer of the afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.

^{2 Ref} Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me.

^{3 Ref} For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.

^{4 Ref} Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.

^{5 Ref} From the voice of my sighing Hath my bone cleaved to my flesh.

^{6 Ref} I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.

^{7 Ref} I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.

^{8 Ref} All the day mine enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.

^{9 Ref} Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,

^{10 Ref} From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down.

^{11 Ref} My days as a shadow `are' stretched out, And I -- as the herb I am withered.

^{12 Ref} And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial to all generations.

^{13 Ref} Thou -- Thou risest -- Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come.

^{14 Ref} For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.

^{15 Ref} And nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour,

^{16 Ref} For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour,

^{17 Ref} He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.

^{18 Ref} This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah.

^{19 Ref} For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively,

^{20 Ref} To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,

^{21 Ref} To declare in Zion the name of Jehovah, And His praise in Jerusalem,

^{22 Ref} In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms -- to serve Jehovah.

^{23 Ref} He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days.

^{24 Ref} I say, `My God, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations `are' Thine years.

^{25 Ref} Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands `are' the heavens.

^{26 Ref} They -- They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed.

^{27 Ref} And Thou `art' the same, and Thine years are not finished.

^{28 Ref} The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!

^{1 Ref} Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And let my cry come unto thee.

^{2 Ref} 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 Ref} For my days consume away like smoke, And my bones are burned as a firebrand.

^{4 Ref} My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.

^{5 Ref} By reason of the voice of my groaning My bones cleave to my flesh.

^{6 Ref} I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.

^{7 Ref} I watch, and am become like a sparrow That is alone upon the house-top.

^{8 Ref} Mine enemies reproach me all the day; They that are mad against me do curse by me.

^{9 Ref} For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping,

^{10 Ref} Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: For thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.

^{11 Ref} My days are like a shadow that declineth; And I am withered like grass.

^{12 Ref} But thou, O Jehovah, wilt abide for ever; And thy memorial `name' unto all generations.

^{13 Ref} Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; For it is time to have pity upon her, Yea, the set time is come.

^{14 Ref} For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity upon her dust.

^{15 Ref} So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.

^{16 Ref} For Jehovah hath built up Zion; He hath appeared in his glory.

^{17 Ref} He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, And hath not despised their prayer.

^{18 Ref} This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise Jehovah.

^{19 Ref} For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; From heaven did Jehovah behold the earth;

^{20 Ref} To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those that are appointed to death;

^{21 Ref} That men may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem;

^{22 Ref} When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.

^{23 Ref} He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.

^{24 Ref} I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations.

^{25 Ref} Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands.

^{26 Ref} 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 Ref} But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end.

^{28 Ref} The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee. Psalm 103 `A Psalm' of David.

^{1 Ref} > Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.

^{2 Ref} 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.

^{3 Ref} For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a firebrand.

^{4 Ref} My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, For I forget to eat my bread.

^{5 Ref} By reason of the voice of my groaning, My bones stick to my skin.

^{6 Ref} I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.

^{7 Ref} I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.

^{8 Ref} My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.

^{9 Ref} For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mixed my drink with tears,

^{10 Ref} Because of your indignation and your wrath, For you have taken me up, and thrown me away.

^{11 Ref} My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.

^{12 Ref} But you, Yahweh, will abide forever; Your renown endures to all generations.

^{13 Ref} You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.

^{14 Ref} For your servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity on her dust.

^{15 Ref} So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh; All the kings of the earth your glory.

^{16 Ref} For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.

^{17 Ref} He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer.

^{18 Ref} This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.

^{19 Ref} For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;

^{20 Ref} To hear the groans of the prisoner; To free those who are condemned to death;

^{21 Ref} That men may declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem;

^{22 Ref} When the peoples are gathered together, The kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.

^{23 Ref} He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.

^{24 Ref} I said, "My God, don't take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.

^{25 Ref} Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.

^{26 Ref} 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.

^{27 Ref} But you are the same. Your years will have no end.

^{28 Ref} The children of your servants will continue. Their seed will be established before you."