Psalm 101 (vulgate numbering) / 102 (Hebrew numbering)

Biblical translations

• Vulgate
• Coverdale (1535)
• Geneva
• Douay Rheims (1609/10)
• 1611 Authorized Edition

English paraphrases

• Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542)
• Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke (1580s)

Vulgate:

1. Oratio pauperis, cum anxius fuerit, et in conspectu Domini effuderit precem suam.
2. Domine, exaudi orationem meam, et clamor meus ad te veniat.
3. Non avertas faciem tuam a me: in quacumque die tribulor, inclina ad me aurem tuam; in quacumque die invocavero te, velociter exaudi me.
4. Quia defecerunt sicut fumus dies mei, et ossa mea sicut cremium aruerunt.
5. Percussus sum ut foenum, et aruit cor meum, quia oblitus sum comedere panem meum.
6. A voce gemitus mei adhaesit os meum carni meae.
7. Similis factus sum pellicano solitudinis; factus sum sicut nycticorax in domicilio.
8. Vigilavi, et factus sum sicut passer solitarius in tecto.
9. Tota die exprobrabant mihi inimici mei, et qui laudabant me adversum me jurabant:
10. quia cinerem tamquam panem manducabam, et potum meum cum fletu miscebam,
11. a facie irae et indignationis tuae: quia elevans allisisti me.
12. Dies mei sicut umbra declinaverunt, et ego sicut foenum arui.
13. Tu autem, Domine, in aeternum permanes, et memoriale tuum in generationem et generationem.
14. Tu exsurgens misereberis Sion, quia tempus miserendi ejus, quia venit tempus:
15. quoniam placuerunt servis tuis lapides ejus, et terrae ejus miserebuntur.
16. Et timebunt gentes nomen tuum, Domine, et omnes reges terrae gloriam tuam:
17. quia aedificavit Dominus Sion, et videbitur in gloria sua.
18. Respexit in orationem humilium et non sprevit precem eorum.
19. Scribantur haec in generatione altera, et populus qui creabitur laudabit Dominum.
20. Quia prospexit de excelso sancto suo; Dominus de caelo in terram aspexit:
21. ut audiret gemitus compeditorum; ut solveret filios interemptorum:
22. ut annuntient in Sion nomen Domini, et laudem ejus in Jerusalem:
23. in conveniendo populos in unum, et reges, ut serviant Domino.
24. Respondit ei in via virtutis suae: Paucitatem dierum meorum nuntia mihi:
25. ne revoces me in dimidio dierum meorum, in generationem et generationem anni tui.
26. Initio tu, Domine, terram fundasti, et opera manuum tuarum sunt caeli.
27. Ipsi peribunt, tu autem permanes; et omnes sicut vestimentum veterascent. Et sicut opertorium mutabis eos, et mutabuntur;
28. tu autem idem ipse es, et anni tui non deficient.
29. Filii servorum tuorum habitabunt, et semen eorum in saeculum dirigetur.

Coverdale (1535)

1. Heare my prayer (o LORDE) and let my criege come vnto the.
2. Hyde not thy face fro me in the tyme of my trouble: enclyne thine eares vnto me when I call, O heare me, and that right soone.
3. For my dayes are consumed awaye like smoke, & my bones are brent vp as it were a fyre brande.
4. My hert is smytte downe and wythered like grasse, so that I forget to eate my bred.
5. For the voyce of my gronynge, my bone wil scarse cleue to my flesh.
6. I am become like a Pellicane in the wildernes, and like an Oule in a broken wall.
7. I wake, and am euen as it were a sparow sittinge alone vpon the house toppe.
8. Myne enemies reuyle me all the daye longe, they laugh me to scorne, and are sworne together against me.
9. I eate ashes with my bred, and mengle my drynke with wepynge.
10. And that because of ye indignacion and wrath, for thou hast taken me vp, and cast me awaye.
11. My dayes are gone like a shadowe, and I am wythered like grasse.
12. But thou (o LORDE) endurest for euer, and thy remembraunce thorow out all generacions.
13. Arise therfore and haue mercy vpon Sion, for it is tyme to haue mercy vpon her, yee the tyme is come.
14. And why? thy seruauntes haue a loue to hir stones, & it pitieth them to se her in the dust.
15. The Heithen shal feare thy name (o LORDE) and all the kynges of the earth thy maiesty.
16. For the LORDE shal buylde vp Sion, and shal apeare in his glory.
17. e turneth him vnto the prayer of the poore destitute, and despyseth not their desyre.
18. This shalbe written for those yt come after, that the people which shalbe borne, maye prayse the LORDE.
19. For He loketh downe from his Sanctuary, out of the heauen doth the LORDE beholde the earth.
20. That he maye heare the mournynges of soch as be in captiuyte, and delyuer the children of death.
21. That they maie preach the name of the LORDE in Sion, and his worshipe at Ierusalem.
22. When the people are gathered together, and the kyngdomes also to serue ye LORDE.
23. He hath brought downe my strength in my iourney, and shortened my dayes.
24. Yet wil I saye: O my God, take me not awaye in ye myddest of myne age: as for thy yeares, they endure thorow out all generacions.
25. Thou LORDE in the begynnynge hast layed ye foundacion of the earth, and the heauens are the workes of thy hondes.
26. They shal perishe, but thou shalt endure: they all shall wexe olde as doth a garment, & as a vesture shalt thou chaunge the, and they shalbe chaunged.
27. But thou art the same, and thy yeares shal not fayle.
28. The children of thy seruauntes shall contynue, & their sede shal prospere in yi sight.

Geneva Bible (1560)

1. A prayer of the afflicted, when hee shall be in distresse, and poure foorth his meditation before the Lorde. O Lorde, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee.
2. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine eares vnto me: when I call, make haste to heare me.
3. For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an herthe.
4. Mine heart is smitten and withereth like grasse , because I forgate to eate my bread.
5. For the voyce of my groning my bones doe cleaue to my skinne.
6. I am like a pelicane of the wildernesse: I am like an owle of the deserts.
7. I watch and am as a sparrowe alone vpon the house top.
8. Mine enemies reuile me dayly, and they that rage against me, haue sworne against me.
9. Surely I haue eaten asshes as bread, and mingled my drinke with weeping,
10. Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast heaued me vp, and cast me downe.
11. My dayes are like a shadowe that fadeth, and I am withered like grasse .
12. But thou, O Lorde, doest remaine for euer, and thy remembrance from generation to generation.
13. Thou wilt arise and haue mercy vpon Zion : for the time to haue mercie thereon, for the appointed time is come.
14. For thy seruants delite in the stones thereof, and haue pitie on the dust thereof.
15. Then the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the earth thy glory,
16. When the Lorde shall build vp Zion, and shall appeare in his glory,
17. And shall turne vnto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer.
18. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people, which shalbe created, shall prayse the Lord.
19. For he hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: out of the heauen did the Lord beholde the earth,
20. That he might heare the mourning of the prisoner, and deliuer the children of death:
21. That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and his prayse in Ierusalem,
22. When the people shalbe gathered together, and the kingdomes to serue the Lorde.
23. He abated my strength in the way, and shortened my dayes.
24. And I sayd, O my God, take me not away in the middes of my dayes: thy yeeres endure from generation to generation.
25. Thou hast aforetime layde the foundation of the earth, and the heauens are the worke of thine hands.
26. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: euen they all shall waxe olde as doeth a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
27. But thou art the same, and thy yeeres shall not fayle.
28. The children of thy seruants shall continue, and their seede shall stand fast in thy sight.

Douay Rheims (1609/1610)

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 of the wilderness: I am like a night raven in the house.
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: Declare unto me the fewness of my days.
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.

Authorized Edition (1611)

1. [A prayer of the afflicted when he is ouerwhelmed, and powreth out his complaint before the Lord.] Heare my prayer, O Lord: and let my crie come vnto thee.
2. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble, incline thine eare vnto me: in the day when I call, answere mee speedily.
3. For my dayes are consumed like smoke: and my bones are burnt as an hearth.3
4. My heart is smitten, and withered like grasse: so that I forget to eate my bread.
5. By reason of the voice of my groning, my bones cleaue to my skinne.5
6. I am like a Pelican of the wildernes: I am like an owle of the desert.
7. I watch, and am as a sparowe alone vpon the house top.
8. Mine enemies reproch me all the day: and they that are mad against me, are sworne against me.
9. For I haue eaten ashes like bread: and mingled my drinke with weeping.
10. Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me vp, and cast me downe.
11. My dayes are like a shadow, that declineth: & I am withered like grasse.11
12. But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for euer: and thy remembrance vnto all generations.
13. Thou shalt arise, and haue mercie vpon Zion: for the time to fauour her, yea the set time is come.
14. For thy seruants take pleasure in her stones: and fauour the dust therof.
15. So the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord: and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16. When the Lord shall build vp Zion: he shall appeare in his glory.
17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created, shall praise the Lord.
19. For hee hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: from heauen did the Lord beholde the earth:
20. To heare the groning of the prisoner: to loose those that are appointed to death:20
21. To declare the Name of the Lord in Zion: and his praise in Ierusalem:
22. When the people are gathered together: and the kingdomes to serue the Lord.
23. He weakened my strength in the way: he shortened my dayes.23
24. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my dayes: thy yeres are throughout all generations.
25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heauens are the worke of thy hands.25
26. They shall perish, but thou shalt indure, yea all of them shall waxe old like a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shalbe changed.26
27. But thou art the same: and thy yeeres shall haue no end.
28. The children of thy seruants shal continue: and their seed shall be established before thee.

Sir Thomas Wyatt