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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.”

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.

12 But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;(U)
    your renown endures(V) through all generations.(W)
13 You will arise(X) and have compassion(Y) on Zion,
    for it is time(Z) to show favor(AA) to her;
    the appointed time(AB) has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will fear(AC) the name of the Lord,
    all the kings(AD) of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion(AE)
    and appear in his glory.(AF)
17 He will respond to the prayer(AG) of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

18 Let this be written(AH) for a future generation,
    that a people not yet created(AI) may praise the Lord:
19 “The Lord looked down(AJ) from his sanctuary on high,
    from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners(AK)
    and release those condemned to death.”
21 So the name of the Lord will be declared(AL) in Zion
    and his praise(AM) in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
    assemble to worship(AN) the Lord.

23 In the course of my life[b] he broke my strength;
    he cut short my days.(AO)
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
    your years go on(AP) through all generations.
25 In the beginning(AQ) you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens(AR) are the work of your hands.(AS)
26 They will perish,(AT) but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
    and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same,(AU)
    and your years will never end.(AV)
28 The children of your servants(AW) will live in your presence;
    their descendants(AX) will be established before you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 102:1 In Hebrew texts 102:1-28 is numbered 102:2-29.
  2. Psalm 102:23 Or By his power