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

102 Hear my prayer, Yahweh!
    Let my cry come to you.
Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress.
    Turn your ear to me.
    Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
For my days consume away like smoke.
    My bones are burned as a torch.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered,
    for I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning,
    my bones stick to my skin.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness.
    I have become as an owl of the waste places.
    I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
My enemies reproach me all day.
    Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
For I have eaten ashes like bread,
    and mixed my drink with tears,
10     because of your indignation and your wrath;
    for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a long shadow.
    I have withered like grass.

12 But you, Yahweh, will remain forever;
    your renown endures to all generations.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion;
    for it is time to have pity on her.
    Yes, the set time has come.
14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones,
    and have pity on her dust.
15 So the nations will fear Yahweh’s name,
    all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For Yahweh has built up Zion.
    He has appeared in his glory.
17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute,
    and has not despised their prayer.
18 This will be written for the generation to come.
    A people which will be created will praise Yah,
19 for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary.
    From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoner,
    to free those who are condemned to death,
21 that men may declare Yahweh’s name in Zion,
    and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when the peoples are gathered together,
    the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.

23 He weakened my strength along the course.
    He shortened my days.
24 I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days.
    Your years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth.
    The heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will endure.
    Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment.
    You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
27 But you are the same.
    Your years will have no end.
28 The children of your servants will continue.
    Their offspring will be established before you.”

Do Not Hide Your Face from Me

A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is (A)faint and (B)pours out his complaint before the Lord.

102 (C)Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry (D)come to you!
(E)Do not hide your face from me
    in (F)the day of my distress!
(G)Incline your ear to me;
    (H)answer me speedily (I)in the day when I call!

For my days (J)pass away like smoke,
    and my (K)bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is (L)struck down like grass and (M)has withered;
    I (N)forget to eat my bread.
Because of my loud groaning
    my (O)bones cling to my flesh.
I am like (P)a desert owl of the wilderness,
    like an owl[a] of the waste places;
I (Q)lie awake;
    I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
All the day my enemies taunt me;
    those who (R)deride me (S)use my name for a curse.
For I eat ashes like bread
    and (T)mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;
    for you have (U)taken me up and (V)thrown me down.
11 My days are like (W)an evening shadow;
    I (X)wither away like grass.

12 But you, O Lord, are (Y)enthroned forever;
    you (Z)are remembered throughout all generations.
13 You will (AA)arise and have (AB)pity on Zion;
    it is the time to favor her;
    (AC)the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her (AD)stones dear
    and have pity on her dust.
15 Nations will (AE)fear the name of the Lord,
    and all (AF)the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
16 For the Lord (AG)builds up Zion;
    he (AH)appears in his glory;
17 he (AI)regards the prayer of the destitute
    and does not despise their prayer.

18 Let this be (AJ)recorded for (AK)a generation to come,
    so that (AL)a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19 that he (AM)looked down from his holy height;
    from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear (AN)the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free (AO)those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may (AP)declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
    and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when (AQ)peoples gather together,
    and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;
    he (AR)has shortened my days.
24 “O my God,” (AS)I say, “take me not away
    in the midst of my days—
(AT)you whose years endure
    throughout all generations!”

25 (AU)Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and (AV)the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 (AW)They will perish, but (AX)you will remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27     but (AY)you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 (AZ)The children of your servants (BA)shall dwell secure;
    (BB)their offspring shall be established before you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 102:6 The precise identity of these birds is uncertain