Psalm 102

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.

1Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.footnote a

2Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.footnote b

4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.footnote c

6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

7I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

8Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;footnote d

21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.footnote e

24I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:footnote f

27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

The Prayer of the Afflicted

A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.

1Hear my prayer, O LORD;let my cry for help come before You. 2Do not hide Your face from mein 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. 5Through my loud groaningmy skin hangs on my bones. 6I am like a desert owl,like an owl among the ruins. 7I lie awake;I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

8All day long my enemies taunt me;they ridicule me and curse me. 9For I have eaten ashes like breadand mixed my drink with tears 10because of Your indignation and wrath,for You have picked me up and cast me aside. 11My days are like lengthening shadows,and I wither away like grass.

12But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;Your renown endures to all generations. 13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come. 14For Your servants delight in her stonesand take pity on her dust.

15So the nations will fear the name of the LORD,and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory. 16For the LORD will rebuild Zion;He has appeared in His glory. 17He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute;He will not despise their prayer.

18Let this be written for the generation to come,so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD. 19For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary;the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth 20to hear a prisoner’s groaning,to release those condemned to death, 21that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zionand praise Him in Jerusalem, 22when peoples and kingdoms assembleto serve the LORD.

23He has broken my strength on the way;He has cut short my days. 24I say: “O my God, do not take me 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 passed on. 27But You remain the same,and Your years will never end.footnote a 28The children of Your servants will dwell securely,and their descendants will be established before You.”