The Book of Psalms

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- Chapter 102 -

The prayer of the afflicted

Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.

Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.

I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.

For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears

because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.

My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.

But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor— the appointed time has come.

For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.

So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.

For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.

Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.

For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth

to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,

that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,

when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.

He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.

I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.

In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

They 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.

But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.(a)

The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”

Footnotes

(a)102:27 Cited in Hebrews 1:10–12

The prayer of the afflicted

Hear my prayer, LORD! 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,

because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.

My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.

But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.

You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.

For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.

So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory.

For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.

He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.

This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,

for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,

to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,

that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.

I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.

Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.

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.

But you are the same. Your years will have no end.

The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”