Psalms 102 · Verse 11

Psalms 102:11

My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
Psalms 102:11, King James Version

Psalms 102:11 in other translations

BSBMy days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.
WEBMy days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
ASVMy days are like a shadow that declineth; And I am withered like grass.
YLTMy days as a shadow are stretched out, And I--as the herb I am withered.
DARBYMy days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass.
BBEMy days are like a shade which is stretched out; I am dry like the grass.
WebsterMy days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

What does Psalms 102:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. shadow ... declineth--soon to vanish in the darkness of night.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth - Or rather, My days decline like the shadow. I have passed my meridian, and the sun of my prosperity is about to set for ever. There may be here an allusion to the declination of the sun towards the south, which, by shortening their days, would greatly lengthen their nights. Similar to the exclamation of a contemporary prophet, Jer 8:20 : "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." There is now scarcely any human hope of our deliverance.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 102:1-11

The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but here, is often elsewhere, the Holy Ghost has put words into our mouths. Here is a prayer put into the hands of the afflicted; let them present it to God. Even good men may be almost overwhelmed with afflictions. It is our duty and interest to pray; and it is comfort to an afflicted spirit to unburden itself, by a humble representation of its griefs. We must…

Read the full comment on Psalms 102:1-11 →

Psalms 102:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יָ֭מַיYa.maidays myH3117
כְּצֵ֣לke.Tzel[are] like a shadowH6738
נָט֑וּיna.TuiextendedH5186
וַ֝אֲנִ֗יva.'a.Niand IH589
כָּעֵ֥שֶׂבka.'E.sevlike <the> vegetationH6212
אִיבָֽשׁ\׃'i.VashI am witheringH3001

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 102:11

  • Job 14:2

    He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

  • Psalms 109:23

    I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

  • Psalms 144:4

    Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

  • 1 Peter 1:24

    For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

  • James 4:14

    Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

  • James 1:10

    But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

  • Isaiah 40:6-8

    The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

  • Psalms 102:3-4

    For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

  • Psalms 39:5-6

    Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • Ecclesiastes 6:12

    For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
My days.
3; 39:5,6; 109:23; 144:4; Job 14:2; Ec 6:12; Jas 4:14
I am withered.
4; Isa 40:6-8; Jas 1:10; 1Pe 1:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 102:10

    Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

  • Psalms 102:11

    My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

  • Psalms 102:12

    But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

Read all of Psalms 102

Psalms 102:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mis días son como la sombra que se va; y heme secado como la hierba.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		À cause de ton indignation et de ta colère; car tu m’as élevé haut, et tu m’as jeté en bas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Meine Tage sind wie ein gestreckter Schatten, und ich verdorre wie Kraut.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quoniam secundum altitudinem cæli a terra, corroboravit misericordiam suam super timentes se;