Psalm 102

1 A Prayer of one afflicted, when he grows weak and pours out his complaint before YHWH. <span class=|reftext|><a href=|#|><b>1</b></a> O YHWH, may You hear my prayer and may my cry come to You!

2 Do not hide Your face from me, in the day of distress for me! Incline to me Your ear; on the day [that] I call may You hurry and answer me!

3 For my days come to an end like smoke, and my bones like a burning [wick] have been charred.

4 My heart has been struck like the grass and has withered, [so] that I forget to eat my bread.

5 From the voice of my groaning, my bone has clung to my flesh.

6 I am like a vulture of the desert; I have become like an owl of the wasteland.

7 I stay awake, and I am like a bird alone on the housetop.

8 All the day my enemies the taunt me; those shouting boastfully swear against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and my drink I have mingled with weeping,

10 from the face of Your anger and Your wrath, for You have lifted me up and cast me away.

11 My days [are] like a shadow stretching out; and I, like the grass, wither away.

12 But You, O YHWH, dwell forever, and Your memorial to generation and generation.

13 You will rise up [and] have compassion [on] Zion—for the time to show her favor, indeed, the appointed time, has come.

14 How Your servants take delight [in] her stones—even her dust they favor!

15 And the nations will fear the name of YHWH, and all the kings of the earth Your glory.

16 For YHWH has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

17 He has turned toward the prayer of the destitute, and He will not despise their prayer.

18 This will be written for the generation to come, and a people yet to be created will praise YAH.

19 For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary, YHWH looked out from the heavens to the earth,

20 to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release the sons of death;

21 to declare in Zion the name of YHWH, and His praise in Jerusalem,

22 in the gathering of the peoples together—and the kingdoms—to serve YHWH.

23 He has broken my strength on the way; He has shortened my days.

24 I said, “O my God, do not take me up in the midst of my days; Your years [are] generation [to] generations.

25 Before time You founded the earth, and the heavens [are] the work of Your hands.

26 They will perish, but You will stand; and all of them will wear out like a garment—like clothing, You will pass them on, and they will pass away.

27 And You are the same, and Your years will not end.

28 The sons of Your servants will settle down, and their seed will be established before Your face.”