102 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.

Hide 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Psalm 102[a]

A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.

Hear my prayer,(A) Lord;
    let my cry for help(B) come to you.
Do not hide your face(C) from me
    when I am in distress.
Turn your ear(D) to me;
    when I call, answer me quickly.

For my days vanish like smoke;(E)
    my bones(F) burn like glowing embers.
My heart is blighted and withered like grass;(G)
    I forget to eat my food.(H)
In my distress I groan aloud(I)
    and am reduced to skin and bones.
I am like a desert owl,(J)
    like an owl among the ruins.
I lie awake;(K) I have become
    like a bird alone(L) on a roof.
All day long my enemies(M) taunt me;(N)
    those who rail against me use my name as a curse.(O)
For I eat ashes(P) as my food
    and mingle my drink with tears(Q)
10 because of your great wrath,(R)
    for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow;(S)
    I wither(T) away like grass.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 102:1 In Hebrew texts 102:1-28 is numbered 102:2-29.

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)

Lord, hear my prayer;
let my cry for help come before you.(B)
Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble.
Listen closely to me;
answer me quickly when I call.(C)

For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.(D)
My heart is suffering, withered like grass;(E)
I even forget to eat my food.(F)
Because of the sound of my groaning,
my flesh sticks to my bones.(G)
I am like an eagle owl,
like a little owl among the ruins.(H)
I stay awake;(I)
I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
My enemies taunt me all day long;
they ridicule and use my name as a curse.(J)
I eat ashes like bread
and mingle my drinks with tears(K)
10 because of your indignation and wrath;
for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.(L)
11 My days are like a lengthening shadow,
and I wither away like grass.(M)

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Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.

A Prayer of the Afflicted when he is faint and [a]pours out his complaint before the Lord.

102 (A)Hear my prayer, O Lord!
And let my cry for help (B)come to You.
(C)Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress;
(D)Incline Your ear to me;
In the day when I call (E)answer me quickly.
For my days (F)have been [b]consumed in smoke,
And my (G)bones have been scorched like a hearth.
My heart (H)has been smitten like [c]grass and has (I)withered away,
Indeed, I (J)forget to eat my bread.
Because of the [d]loudness of my groaning
My (K)bones [e]cling to my flesh.
I [f]resemble a (L)pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the waste places.
I (M)lie awake,
I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.

My enemies (N)have reproached me all day long;
Those who [g](O)deride me [h]have used my name as a (P)curse.
For I have eaten ashes like bread
And (Q)mingled my drink with weeping
10 (R)Because of Your indignation and Your wrath,
For You have (S)lifted me up and cast me away.
11 My days are like a [i](T)lengthened shadow,
And [j]I (U)wither away like [k]grass.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 102:1 Ps 142:2
  2. Psalm 102:3 Or finished
  3. Psalm 102:4 Lit herbage
  4. Psalm 102:5 Lit voice
  5. Psalm 102:5 Lit have cleaved
  6. Psalm 102:6 Lit have become similar to
  7. Psalm 102:8 Or made a fool of
  8. Psalm 102:8 Lit have sworn by me
  9. Psalm 102:11 Lit stretched out
  10. Psalm 102:11 Or as for me, I
  11. Psalm 102:11 Lit herbage