The Book of Psalms

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- Chapter 102 -

The prayer of the afflicted

Yahweh, listen to what I am praying; hear me while I cry out to you!

Do not turn away! Listen to me, and answer me quickly now when I am calling out to you!

My life is ending like smoke that disappears; I have a big fever which burns my body as a fire burns.

I feel as though I am drying up like grass that has been mown, and I do not even think about eating any food.

I groan loudly, and my bones can be seen under my skin because I have become very thin.

I am like a lonely and despised vulture in the desert, like an owl by itself in the abandoned ruins of a building.

I lie awake at night; because there is no one to comfort me, I am like a lonely bird sitting on a housetop.

All during each day my enemies insult me; those who make fun of me mention my name and say, “May you be like him” when they curse people.

Because you are very angry with me, I sit in ashes while I am suffering greatly;

those ashes fall on the bread that I eat, and what I drink has my tears mixed with it. It is as though you have picked me up and thrown me away!

My time to remain alive is short like an evening shadow that will soon be gone. I am withering as grass withers in the hot sun.

But Yahweh, you are our king who rules forever; people who are not yet born will remember you.

You will arise and act mercifully toward the people of Jerusalem; it is now time for you to do that; this is the time for you to be kind to them.

Even though the city has been destroyed, we who serve you still love the stones that were formerly in the city walls; because now there is rubble everywhere, we, your people, are very sad when we see it.

Yahweh, someday the people of other nations will have an awesome respect for you; all the kings on the earth will see that you are very glorious.

You will rebuild Jerusalem, and you will appear there with your glory.

You will listen to the prayers of your people who are homeless, and you will not ignore them when they plead with you to help them.

Yahweh, I want to write these words so that people in future years will know what you have done, in order that people who are not born yet will praise you.

They will know that you looked down from your own place in heaven and saw what was happening on the earth.

They will know that you hear prisoners groaning and that you will set free those who have been told, “You will be executed.”

As a result, people in Jerusalem will praise you for what you have done.

Many people from other people groups and those who are citizens of other kingdoms will gather to worship you.

But now you have caused me to become weak while I am still young; I think that I will not remain alive very long.

I say to you, “My God, do not take me away from the earth now before I become old! You, on the other hand, live forever!

You created the world long ago, and you made the heavens with your own hands.

The earth and the heavens will disappear, but you will remain. They will wear out as clothes wear out. You will get rid of them as people get rid of old clothes, and they will no longer exist.

But you are not like the things that you created because you are always the same; you never die.

Someday our children will live safely in Jerusalem, and their descendants will be protected as they live in your presence.”

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.”