---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 119 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/119/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 119. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/119/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 119. Psalm 102

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/119/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/119/#p-N

[¶0] A Prayer for the afflicted when he shall be shut up, and shall pour out his meditation before Jehovah

[¶1] 1 O Jehovah! hear my prayer, And let my cry to thee come.

[¶2] 2 Hide not thy face from me in the day of my afflictions; Incline to me thy ear; In the day when I cry, make haste, answer me.

[¶3] 3 For consumed like smoke are my days, And my bones as a hearth are burnt up.

[¶4] 4 Smitten like grass, and withered is my heart, Because I have forgotten to eat my bread.

[¶5] 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, Cleave do my bones to my flesh.

[¶6] 6 I am become like a pelican of the desert, I am become as an owl of the solitudes;

[¶7] 7 I have watched and am as the sparrow Which is solitary upon the roof of the house.

[¶8] 8 Daily reproach me do my enemies; And those who are mad against me, by me have sworn.

[¶9] 9 For ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping I have mingled.

[¶10] 10 Because of thy indignation and thy wrath; For thou hast lifted me up and cast me down.

[¶11] 11 My days are as a shadow which declineth; And as grass I am dried up.

[¶12] 12 And thou, O Jehovah! for ever shalt dwell, And thy memorial from generation to generation.

[¶13] 13 Thou thyself shalt arise, thou shalt have mercy upon Zion; For it is time to compassionate her, For come is the appointed time.

[¶14] 14 For take pleasure do thy servants in her stones, And upon her dust they will have compassion.

[¶15] 15 And fear shall the Gentiles the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.

[¶16] 16 For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath appeared in his glory.

[¶17] 17 He hath regarded the prayer of the solitary, And hath not despised their prayer.

[¶18] 18 This shall be written for the generation to come, And the people [to be] created shall praise him.

[¶19] 19 For he hath looked from the high place of his holiness, Jehovah from the heavens upon the earth hath looked,

[¶20] 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoners To release the sons of death;

[¶21] 21 That declared in Zion may be the name of Jehovah, And his praise in Jerusalem;

[¶22] 22 When gathered shall be the peoples together, And the kingdoms to serve Jehovah.

[¶23] 23 He hath afflicted in the way my strength, He hath shortened my days.

[¶24] 24 I said, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days; For throughout generations of generations are thy years.

[¶25] 25 Aforetime the earth thou hast founded; And the work of thy hands serve the heavens.

[¶26] 26 They shall perish but thou shalt endure; And they all as a garment shall grow old; As a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed.

[¶27] 27 But thou art always the same, And thy years shall not fail.

[¶28] 28 The children of thy servants shall dwell, And their seed before thee shall be established.