Psalm 102In Hebrew texts 102:1-28 is numbered 102:2-29.
A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.
1Hear my prayer, Lord;
let my cry for help come to you.
2Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
3For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
4My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.
5In my distress I groan aloud
and am reduced to skin and bones.
6I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
7I lie awake; I have become
like a bird alone on a roof.
8All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9For I eat ashes as my food
and mingle my drink with tears
10because of your great wrath,
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11My days are like the evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations.
13You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
14For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
15The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16For the Lord will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.
17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
18Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
19“The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
21So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
22when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the Lord.
23In the course of my life102:23 Or By his power he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.
24So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on through all generations.
25In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
27But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
28The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you.”
Psalm 102
A prayer of a suffering person who has become weak. They pour out their problems to the Lord.
1Lord, hear my prayer.
Listen to my cry for help.
2Don’t turn your face away from me
when I’m in trouble.
Pay attention to me.
When I call out for help, answer me quickly.
3My days are disappearing like smoke.
My body burns like glowing coals.
4My strength has dried up like grass.
I even forget to eat my food.
5I groan out loud because of my suffering.
I’m nothing but skin and bones.
6I’m like a desert owl.
I’m like an owl among destroyed buildings.
7I can’t sleep. I’ve become
like a bird alone on a roof.
8All day long my enemies laugh at me.
Those who make fun of me use my name as a curse.
9I eat ashes as my food.
My tears fall into what I’m drinking.
10You were very angry with me.
So you picked me up and threw me away.
11The days of my life are like an evening shadow.
I dry up like grass.
12But Lord, you are seated on your throne forever.
Your fame will continue for all time to come.
13You will rise up and show deep concern for Zion.
The time has come for you to help Zion.
14The stones of your destroyed city are priceless to us.
Even its dust brings deep concern to us.
15The nations will worship the Lord.
All the kings on earth will respect his glorious power.
16The Lord will build Zion again.
He will appear in his glory.
17He will answer the prayer of those who don’t have anything.
He won’t say no to their cry for help.
18Let this be written down for those born after us.
Then people who are not yet born can praise the Lord.
19Here is what should be written.
“The Lord looked down from his temple in heaven.
From heaven he viewed the earth.
20He heard the groans of the prisoners.
He set free those who were sentenced to death.”
21So people will talk about him in Zion.
They will praise him in Jerusalem.
22Nations and kingdoms
will gather there to worship the Lord.
23When I was still young, he took away my strength.
He wasn’t going to let me live much longer.
24So I said, “My God, don’t let me die in the middle of my life.
You will live for all time to come.
25In the beginning you made the earth secure.
You placed it on its foundations.
Your hands created the heavens.
26They will pass away. But you will remain.
They will all wear out like a piece of clothing.
You will make them like clothes
that are taken off and thrown away.
27But you remain the same.
Your years will never end.
28Our children will live with you.
Their sons and daughters will be safe in your care.”
