Psalms 102
The Prayer of the Afflicted
A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.
1Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.2For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
3My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
4Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.
5I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
6I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
7All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.
8For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
9because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
10My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.
11But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.
12You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor — the appointed time has come.
13For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.
14So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
15For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
16He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
17Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
18For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
19to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
20that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,
21when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.
22He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
23I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.
24In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
25They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
26But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
27The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”