Psalm 102
World English Bible
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.
2 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.
3 For my days consume away like smoke.
My bones are burned as a torch.
4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered,
for I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning,
my bones stick to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness.
I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8 My enemies reproach me all day.
Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9 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.”
Psalm 102
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 102
Prayer to the Eternal King for Help
A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the Lord.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you.(A)
2 Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call.(B)
3 For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.(C)
4 My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
I am too wasted to eat my bread.(D)
5 Because of my loud groaning,
my bones cling to my skin.(E)
6 I am like a desert owl[a] of the wilderness,
like a little owl of the waste places.(F)
7 I lie awake;
I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.(G)
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.(H)
9 Indeed, I eat ashes like bread
and mingle tears with my drink,(I)
10 because of your indignation and anger,
for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like a lengthening shadow;
I wither away like grass.(J)
12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
your name endures to all generations.(K)
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to favor it;
the appointed time has come.(L)
14 For your servants hold its stones dear
and have pity on its dust.
15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord
and all the kings of the earth your glory.(M)
16 For the Lord will build up Zion;
he will appear in his glory.(N)
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute
and will not despise their prayer.(O)
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord:(P)
19 that he looked down from his holy height,
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,(Q)
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,(R)
21 so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem,(S)
22 when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to serve the Lord.(T)
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;
he has shortened my days.(U)
24 “O my God,” I say, “do not take me away
at the midpoint of my life,
you whose years endure
throughout all generations.”(V)
25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.(W)
26 They will perish, but you endure;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You change them like clothing, and they pass away,(X)
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.(Y)
28 The children of your servants shall live secure;
their offspring shall be established in your presence.(Z)
Footnotes
- 102.6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
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