Chapter 101

A sinner in affliction of mind prayeth God to deliver him, ℣.10 desolate of all other help. ℣.13 Conceiveth comfort in God's eternal goodness, and singular mercy, in redeeming mankind, and propagating the Church. ℣.24 Prayeth to be made mature in virtue before he die, that he may live with God: ℣.26 Who only and wholly being immutable, establisheth his servants for ever.

1. 1

   The prayer of the poor, when he shall be anxious, and shall make his petition before our Lord.

2. 2

   Lord hear my prayer: and let my cry come to thee.

3. 3

   Turn not away thy face from me: in what day soever I am in tribulation, incline thine ear to me. In what day soever I shall invocate thee, hear me speedily.

4. 4

   Because my days have vanished as smoke: and my bones are withered as a dry burnt firebrand.

5. 5

   I am strucken as grass, and my heart is withered: because I have forgotten to eat my bread.

6. 6

   For the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my flesh.

7. 7

   I am become like a pelican of the wilderness: I am become as a night crow in the house.

8. 8

   I have watched, and am become as a sparrow solitary in the house-top.

9. 9

   All the day did mine enemies upbraid me: and they that praised me sware against me.

10. 10

    Because I did eat ashes as bread, & mingled my drink with weeping.

11. 11

    At the face of thy wrath and indignation: because lifting me up thou hast thrown me down.

12. 12

    My days have declined as a shadow: and I am withered as grass.

13. 13

    But thou o Lord endurest for ever: and thy memorial in generation and generation.

14. 14

    Thou rising up shalt have mercy on Sion: because it is time to have mercy on it, because the time cometh.

15. 15

    Because the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.

16. 16

    And the Gentiles shall fear thy name o Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

17. 17

    Because our Lord hath built Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory.

18. 18

    He hath had respect to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition.

19. 19

    Let these things be written unto an other generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise our Lord.

20. 20

    Because he hath looked forth from his high holy place: our Lord from heaven hath looked upon the earth.

21. 21

    That he might hear the groanings of the fettered: that he might loose the children of them that are slain:

22. 22

    That they may shew forth the name of our Lord in Sion: and his praise Jerusalem.

23. 23

    In the assembling of the people together in one, and kings to serve our Lord.

24. 24

    He answered him in the way of his strength: Shew me the fewness of my days.

25. 25

    Call me not back in the half of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation.

26. 26

    In the beginning, o Lord, thou didst found the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.

27. 27

    They shall perish, but thou are permanent: and they shall all wax old as a garment. And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed:

28. 28

    but thou art the self-same, and thy years shall not fail.

29. 29

    The children of thy servants shall inhabit: and their seed shall be directed for ever.