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Chapter 102
Verse 102

Psalms 102:3

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

American Standard Version (1901)

For my days consume away like smoke, And my bones are burned as a firebrand.

Bible in Basic English

My days are wasted like smoke, and my bones are burned up as in a fire.

Free Bible Version

My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!

Geneva Bible 1599

For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an herthe.

King James (Authorized) Version

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

One Unity Resource Bible

For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.

Translation for Translators

My life is ending, like smoke that disappears [SIM]; I have a high fever which burns my body like a fire burns [SIM].

Unlocked Literal Bible

For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.

Noah Webster Bible

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

World English Bible

For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.

Young's Literal Translation

For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.

Context

The Prayer of the Afflicted

²Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call. ³For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers. ⁴My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

Summary

In this verse, the psalmist expresses deep distress and anguish, feeling overwhelmed by troubles and sorrow. The imagery of smoke rising like a fire symbolizes the intensity of the psalmist's suffering and the fleeting nature of life. This cry for help reflects the human experience of pain and despair, yet it also serves as a plea for God's intervention and deliverance. The psalmist's honesty in acknowledging his struggles encourages believers to bring their own burdens before the Lord, trusting in His faithfulness and compassion. Ultimately, this verse points to the hope of finding solace and restoration in God's presence amidst life's trials.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill
Tyndale

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

From this point onward the Psalm becomes original. Concerning the Beth in בעשׁן, vid., on Psa 37:20. The reading כּמו קד (in the Karaite Ben-Jerucham) enriches the lexicon in the same sense with a word which has scarcely had any existence. מוקד (Arabic mauḳid) signifies here, as in other instances, a hearth. נחרוּ is, as in Psa 69:4, Niphal: my bones are heated through with a fever-heat, as a hearth with the smouldering fire that is on it. הוּכּה (cf. יגודּוּ, Psa 94:21) is used exactly as in Hos 9:16, cf. Psa 121:5. The heart is said to dry up when the life's blood, of which it is the reservoir, fails. The verb שׁכח is followed by מן of dislike. On the cleaving of the bones to the flesh from being baked, i.e., to the skin (Arabic bašar, in accordance with the radical signification, the surface of the body = the skin, from בשׂר, to brush along, rub, scrape, scratch on the surface), cf. Job 19:20; Lam 4:8. ל (אל) with דּבק is used just like בּ. It is unnecessary, with Bttcher, to draw מקּול אנחתי to Psa 102:5. Continuous straining of the voice, especially in connection with persevering prayer arising from inward conflict, does really make the body waste away.

Psalms 102:3

The Prayer of the Afflicted

²Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call. ³For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers. ⁴My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

American Standard Version (1901)

For my days consume away like smoke, And my bones are burned as a firebrand.

Bible in Basic English

My days are wasted like smoke, and my bones are burned up as in a fire.

Free Bible Version

My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!

Geneva Bible 1599

For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an herthe.

King James (Authorized) Version

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

One Unity Resource Bible

For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.

Translation for Translators

My life is ending, like smoke that disappears [SIM]; I have a high fever which burns my body like a fire burns [SIM].

Unlocked Literal Bible

For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.

Noah Webster Bible

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

World English Bible

For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.

Young's Literal Translation

For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.

Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill
Tyndale

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

From this point onward the Psalm becomes original. Concerning the Beth in בעשׁן, vid., on Psa 37:20. The reading כּמו קד (in the Karaite Ben-Jerucham) enriches the lexicon in the same sense with a word which has scarcely had any existence. מוקד (Arabic mauḳid) signifies here, as in other instances, a hearth. נחרוּ is, as in Psa 69:4, Niphal: my bones are heated through with a fever-heat, as a hearth with the smouldering fire that is on it. הוּכּה (cf. יגודּוּ, Psa 94:21) is used exactly as in Hos 9:16, cf. Psa 121:5. The heart is said to dry up when the life's blood, of which it is the reservoir, fails. The verb שׁכח is followed by מן of dislike. On the cleaving of the bones to the flesh from being baked, i.e., to the skin (Arabic bašar, in accordance with the radical signification, the surface of the body = the skin, from בשׂר, to brush along, rub, scrape, scratch on the surface), cf. Job 19:20; Lam 4:8. ל (אל) with דּבק is used just like בּ. It is unnecessary, with Bttcher, to draw מקּול אנחתי to Psa 102:5. Continuous straining of the voice, especially in connection with persevering prayer arising from inward conflict, does really make the body waste away.