A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.
1Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you.2Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.3For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.4My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.5In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.7I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.9For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.12But you, Lord, sit enthroned for ever; your renown endures through all generations.13You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favour to her; the appointed time has come.14For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.15The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.16For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:19‘The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.’21So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord.23In the course of my life[1] he broke my strength; he cut short my days.24So I said: ‘Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.25In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.26They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.27But you remain the same, and your years will never end.28The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.’
Psalm 102
English Standard Version
Do Not Hide Your Face from Me
1A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! (Ex 2:23; 1Sa 9:16; Ps 18:6; Ps 39:12; Ps 61:2; Ps 142:2)2Do 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! (Ps 18:6; Ps 27:9; Ps 31:2; Ps 56:9; Ps 69:17)3For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. (Job 30:30; Ps 31:10; Ps 37:20; La 1:13; Jas 4:14)4My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. (1Sa 1:7; 2Sa 12:17; 1Ki 21:4; Job 33:20; Ps 37:2; Ps 121:6; Isa 40:7; Jas 1:10)5Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. (Job 19:20)6I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl[1] of the waste places; (Job 30:29; Isa 34:11; Zep 2:14)7I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop. (Ps 77:4)8All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. (Isa 65:15; Jer 29:22; Ac 26:11)9For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, (Ps 42:3)10because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down. (Ps 51:11; Eze 3:12; Eze 3:14)11My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. (Job 8:9; Ps 102:4; Ps 109:23; Ps 144:4)12But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. (Ex 3:15; Ps 9:7; Ps 102:26; Ps 135:13)13You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come. (Ps 68:1; Ps 75:2; Isa 40:2; Isa 60:10; Jer 29:10; Da 9:2; Zec 1:12)14For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust. (Ne 4:2; La 4:1)15Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. (1Ki 8:43; Ps 138:4; Isa 59:19; Isa 60:3)16For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory; (Ps 147:2; Isa 60:1)17he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. (Ne 1:6; Ne 1:11)18Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: (De 31:19; Ps 22:31; Ps 48:13; Ps 78:4; Ps 78:6; Isa 43:21; Ro 15:4; 1Co 10:1)19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, (Ps 11:4)20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, (Ps 79:11)21that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, (Ps 22:22)22when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord. (Ps 22:27; Isa 45:14)23He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days. (Ps 89:45)24“O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days— you whose years endure throughout all generations!” (Job 36:26; Ps 90:2; Isa 38:10; Hab 1:12)25Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. (Ge 1:1; Ge 2:1; Ps 96:5; Heb 1:10)26They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, (Ps 102:12; Isa 34:4; Isa 51:6; Mt 24:35; Heb 1:11; 2Pe 3:7; 2Pe 3:10; 2Pe 3:12; Re 20:11; Re 21:1)27but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Isa 41:4; Isa 48:12; Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17)28The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you. (Ps 37:29; Ps 69:36; Ps 112:2)