Psalm 102

¹LORD , hear my prayer!

Let my cry reach you!

²Don’t hide your face from me

in my time of trouble!

Listen to me!

Answer me quickly as I cry out!

³Because my days disappear like smoke,

my bones are burned up as if in an oven;

⁴my heart is smashed like dried-up grass.

I even forget to eat my food

⁵because of my intense groans.

My bones are protruding from my skin.

⁶I’m like some wild owl—

like some screech owl in the desert.

⁷I lie awake all night.

I’m all alone like a bird on a roof.

⁸All day long my enemies make fun of me;

those who mock me curse using my name!

⁹I’ve been eating ashes instead of bread.

I’ve been mixing tears into my drinks

¹¹My days are like a shadow soon gone.

I’m dried up like dead grass.

¹²But you, LORD , rule forever!

Your fame lasts from one generation to the next!

¹³You will stand up—

the time set for that has now come!

¹⁴Your servants cherish Zion’s stones;

they show mercy even to her dirt.

¹⁵The nations will honor the LORD ’s name;

all the earth’s rulers will honor your glory

¹⁶because the LORD will rebuild Zion;

he will be seen there in his glory.

¹⁷God will turn to the prayer of the impoverished;

he won’t despise their prayers.

¹⁸Let this be written down for the next generation

so that people not yet created will praise the LORD :

¹⁹The LORD looked down from his holy summit,

²³God broke my strength in midstride,

cutting my days short.

²⁴I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the prime of life—

your years go on from one generation to the next!

²⁵You laid the earth’s foundations long ago;

the skies are your handiwork.

²⁶These things will pass away, but you will last.

All of these things will wear out like clothing;

you change them like clothes, and they pass on.

²⁷But you are the one!

Your years never end!

²⁸Let your servants’ children live safe;

let your servants’ descendants live secure in your presence.”