Psalms 102:4

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

American King James Version (AKJV)

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

American Standard Version (ASV)

My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

My heart is broken; it has become dry and dead like grass, so that I give no thought to food.

Webster's Revision

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

World English Bible

My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.

English Revised Version (ERV)

My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; for I forget to eat my bread.

Clarke's Psalms 102:4 Bible Commentary

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass - The metaphor here is taken from grass cut down in the meadow. It is first smitten with the scythe, and then withered by the sun. Thus the Jews were smitten with the judgments of God; and they are now withered under the fire of the Chaldeans.

Barnes's Psalms 102:4 Bible Commentary

My heart is smitten - Broken; crushed with grief. We now speak of "a broken heart." Even death is often caused by such excessive sorrow as to crush and break the heart.

And withered like grass - It is dried up as grass is by drought, or as when it is cut down. It loses its support; and having no strength of its own, it dies.

So that I forget to eat my bread - I am so absorbed in my trials; they so entirely engross my attention, that I think of nothing else, not even of those things which are necessary to the support of life. Grief has the effect of taking away the appetite, but this does not seem to be the idea here. It is that of such a complete absorption in trouble that everything else is forgotten.