102:1 A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.
102:2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
102:3 For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
102:4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
102:5 Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.
102:6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
102:7 I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.
102:8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
102:9 For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears
102:10 because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
102:11 My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
102:12 But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
102:13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
102:14 For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.
102:15 The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
102:16 For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
102:17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
102:18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
102:19 “The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
102:20 to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.”
102:21 So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
102:22 when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
102:23 In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days.
102:24 So I said: “Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.
102:25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
102:26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
102:27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
102:28 The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”
102:1 O Jehovah, hear my prayer; / And let my cry come unto You.
102:2 Do not hide Your face from me / On the day of my distress; / Incline Your ear to me; / On the day when I call out, answer me quickly.
102:3 For my days are consumed in smoke, / And my bones burn like a hearth.
102:4 My heart is stricken like grass and dried up; / Indeed I have even forgotten to eat my bread.
102:5 Because of the voice of my groaning / My bones cling to my flesh.
102:6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; / I have become like an owl of the desolate places.
102:7 I watch, and I am like / A lone sparrow on a housetop.
102:8 All day long my enemies reproach me; / Those who deride me use me as a curse.
102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, / And have mixed my drink with weeping,
102:10 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath; / For You have taken me up and cast me away.
102:11 My days are like a shadow that declines, / And I am dried up like grass.
102:12 But You, O Jehovah, abide forever; / And Your memorial is from generation to generation.
102:13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, / For it is time to be gracious to her; the appointed time has come.
102:14 For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, / And show favor to her dust.
102:15 And the nations will fear the name of Jehovah, / And all the kings of the earth, Your glory;
102:16 For Jehovah has built up Zion; / He has appeared in His glory.
102:17 He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, / And has not despised their prayer.
102:18 This will be written for a generation to come, / And a people to be created will praise Jehovah.
102:19 For He has looked down from the height of His sanctuary; / From heaven Jehovah beheld the earth,
102:20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, / To release those appointed to die;
102:21 That the name of Jehovah may be declared in Zion, / And His praise, in Jerusalem,
102:22 When the peoples are gathered together, / And the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.
102:23 He has weakened my strength in the way; / He has shortened my days.
102:24 I said, My God, / Do not take me away in the middle of my days; / Your years are throughout all generations.
102:25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, / And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
102:26 They will perish, but You endure; / Indeed all of them will wear out like a garment; / Like clothing You will change them, / And they will be changed.
102:27 But You are the same, / And Your years are without end.
102:28 The children of Your servants will continue, / And their seed will be established before You.