Psalm 102

Affliction in light of Eternity

A prayer of a suffering person who is weak and pours out his lament before the Lord. ^a

¹Lord, hear my prayer;

let my cry for help come before you. ^b

²Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble.

Listen closely to me;

answer me quickly when I call. ^c

³For my days vanish like smoke,

and my bones burn like a furnace. ^d

⁴My heart is suffering, withered like grass; ^e

I even forget to eat my food. ^f

⁵Because of the sound of my groaning,

my flesh sticks to my bones. ^g

⁶I am like an eagle owl,

like a little owl among the ruins. ^h

⁷I stay awake; ⁱ

I am like a solitary bird on a roof.

⁸My enemies taunt me all day long;

they ridicule and use my name as a curse. ^j

⁹I eat ashes like bread

and mingle my drinks with tears ^k

¹⁰because of your indignation and wrath;

for you have picked me up and thrown me aside. ^l

¹¹My days are like a lengthening shadow,

and I wither away like grass. ^m

¹²But you, Lord, are enthroned forever; ⁿ

your fame endures to all generations. ^o

¹³You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,

for it is time to show favor to her —

the appointed time has come. ^p

¹⁴For your servants take delight in its stones

and favor its dust. ^q

¹⁵Then the nations will fear the name of the Lord,

and all the kings of the earth your glory, ^r

¹⁶for the Lord will rebuild Zion;

he will appear in his glory. ^s

¹⁷He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute

and will not despise their prayer. ^t

¹⁸This will be written for a later generation,

and a people who have not yet been created will praise the Lord: ^u

¹⁹He looked down from his holy heights —

the Lord gazed out from heaven to earth ^v —

²⁰to hear a prisoner’s groaning,

to set free those condemned to die, ^w,^x

²¹so that they might declare

the name of the Lord in Zion

and his praise in Jerusalem ^y

²²when peoples and kingdoms are assembled

to serve the Lord. ^z

²³He has broken my ^aa strength in midcourse;

he has shortened my days. ^ab

²⁴I say, “My God, do not take me

in the middle of my life! ^ac

Your years continue through all generations. ^ad

²⁵Long ago you established the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands. ^ae

²⁶They will perish, but you will endure;

all of them will wear out like clothing.

You will change them like a garment,

and they will pass away. ^af

²⁷But you are the same,

and your years will never end. ^ag

²⁸Your servants’ children will dwell securely,

and their offspring will be established before you.” ^ah