102 Lord , please hear my prayer!
Listen to me when I call to you for help.
2 Now that I am in trouble,
please do not turn away from me.
Listen carefully to me.
Now that I am calling to you for help,
please answer me quickly.
3 My life is quickly disappearing,
like smoke from a fire.
My bones hurt very much,
as if they were burning in an oven. [ b ]
4 I am very weak and upset,
like dry grass that will soon die.
I even forget to eat my food.
5 I cry aloud with pain,
so that I am just skin and bones. [ c ]
6 I am like a wild bird in the desert.
I am like an owl in the wilderness.
7 I am awake in the night,
like a bird that sits alone on the roof.
8 All day my enemies insult me.
They laugh at me
and they use my name as a curse.
9-10 Because you are so angry with me,
I eat ashes as my food.
My tears drop
into the water that I drink.
It seems that you have picked me up,
and then you have thrown me away.
11 My days are disappearing,
like a shadow in the evening.
Like dry grass,
I will soon die.
12 But you, Lord , rule for ever as king.
People will always remember you.
13 You will soon be kind to Zion again.
Now it is time to forgive her.
Yes, the time is now right for you to do that.
14 Her buildings have become broken stones and dust.
But your servants still love your city.
We are sad to see that it is broken down.
15 The nations will respect the Lord 's name.
All the kings of the world
will praise your glory.
16 That will happen when the Lord builds Zion again
and he appears there in his glory.
17 He will answer the prayers
of poor people who have nothing.
He will not refuse to help them.
18 Write these things down
for people who live in future times to read.
Then they too will praise the Lord .
19 Tell them that the Lord looked down
from his home in heaven.
He saw what was happening on the earth.
20 He heard the prisoners call out in pain.
He saved the lives of prisoners
so they could go free before their enemies could kill them.
21 As a result, people will shout the Lord 's name in Zion.
Yes, they will praise him in Jerusalem!
22 At that time, people from all nations
will meet together.
The kingdoms of the world
will come to serve the Lord .
23 But God has made me weak
before I have reached old age.
He has made my life short.
24 So I pray, ‘My God, please do not let me die now,
in the middle of my life.
The years of your life continue for ever!
25 Long ago, you built the world on a strong foundation.
You created the heavens with your own hands.
26 They will all disappear one day,
but you will remain.
They will become spoiled,
like old clothes.
Like clothes, you will remove them,
so that they disappear.
27 But you remain the same, Lord .
The years of your life will never finish.
28 As your servants,
our children will live here safely.
Their children too will be safe,
as they live near to you.’
102 Lord , hear my prayer.
Listen to my cry for help.
2 Don’t turn away from me when I have troubles.
Listen to me, and answer me quickly when I cry for help.
3 My life is passing away like smoke.
My life is like a fire slowly burning out.
4 My strength is gone—
I am like dry, dying grass.
I even forget to eat.
5 Because of my sadness, I am losing so much weight
that my skin hangs from my bones.
6 I am lonely, like an owl living in the desert,
like an owl living among old ruined buildings.
7 I cannot sleep.
I am like a lonely bird on the roof.
8 My enemies insult me all the time.
They make fun of me and use me as an example in their curses.
9 My great sadness is my only food.
My tears fall into my drink.
10 You were angry with me,
so you picked me up and threw me away.
11 My life is almost finished, like the long shadows at the end of the day.
I am like dry and dying grass.
12 But you, Lord , will rule as king forever!
Your name will continue forever and ever!
13 You will rise up and comfort Zion.
The time has come for you to be kind to Zion.
14 Your servants love her stones.
They love even the dust of that city!
15 The nations will worship the Lord ’s name.
All the kings on earth will honor you.
16 The Lord will rebuild Zion,
and people will again see her glory.
17 He will listen to the prayers of those in poverty.
He will not ignore them.
18 Write these things for future generations,
so that they will praise the Lord .
19 The Lord will look down from his Holy Place above.
He will look down at the earth from heaven.
20 And he will hear the prisoner’s prayers.
He will free those who were condemned to die.
21 Then people in Zion will tell about the Lord .
They will praise his name in Jerusalem
22 when nations gather together
and kingdoms come to serve the Lord .
23 My strength failed me.
My life is cut short.
24 So I said, “Don’t let me die while I am still young.
God, you will live forever and ever!
25 Long ago, you made the world.
You made the sky with your own hands!
26 The earth and sky will end,
but you will live forever!
They will wear out like clothes,
and like clothes, you will change them.
27 But you never change.
You will live forever!
28 We are your servants today.
Our children will live here,
and their descendants will come here to worship you.”
102 Hear my prayer, O Lord , and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12 But thou, O Lord , shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord , and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord .
19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord .
23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
102 ( A ) Hear my prayer, Lord !
And let my cry for help ( B ) come to You.
2 ( C ) Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
( D ) Incline Your ear to me;
On the day when I call ( E ) answer me quickly.
3 For my days ( F ) have ended in smoke,
And my ( G ) bones have been scorched like a hearth.
4 My heart ( H ) has been struck like [ b ] grass and has ( I ) withered,
Indeed, I ( J ) forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of the [ c ] loudness of my groaning
My ( K ) bones [ d ] cling to my flesh.
6 I resemble a ( L ) pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the ruins.
7 I ( M ) lie awake,
I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.
8 My enemies ( N ) have taunted me all day long;
Those who [ e ] ( O ) deride me [ f ] have used my name as a ( P ) curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And ( Q ) mixed my drink with weeping
10 ( R ) Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have ( S ) lifted me up and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a [ g ] ( T ) lengthened shadow,
And [ h ] I ( U ) wither away like [ i ] grass.
12 But You, Lord , [ j ] ( V ) remain forever,
And Your [ k ] ( W ) name remains to all generations.
13 You will ( X ) arise and have ( Y ) compassion on Zion;
For ( Z ) it is time to be gracious to her,
For the ( AA ) appointed time has come.
14 Surely Your servants [ l ] take pleasure in her stones,
And feel pity for her dust.
15 [ m ] So the [ n ] ( AB ) nations will fear the name of the Lord ,
And ( AC ) all the kings of the earth, Your glory.
16 For the Lord has ( AD ) built up Zion;
He has ( AE ) appeared in His glory.
17 He has ( AF ) turned His attention to the prayer of the [ o ] destitute
And has not despised their prayer.
18 [ p ] This will be ( AG ) written for the ( AH ) generation to come,
[ q ] That ( AI ) a people yet to be created [ r ] may praise [ s ] the Lord :
19 For He ( AJ ) looked down from His holy height;
( AK ) From heaven the Lord looked [ t ] upon the earth,
20 To hear the ( AL ) groaning of the prisoner,
To ( AM ) set free [ u ] those who were doomed to death,
21 So that people may ( AN ) tell of the name of the Lord in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When ( AO ) the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord .
23 He has broken my strength in the way;
He has ( AP ) shortened my days.
24 I say, “My God, ( AQ ) do not take me away in the middle of my days,
Your ( AR ) years are [ v ] throughout all generations.
25 In time of old You ( AS ) founded the earth,
And the ( AT ) heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 [ w ] Even they will ( AU ) perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.
27 But You are [ x ] ( AV ) the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 The ( AW ) children of Your servants will continue,
And their [ y ] ( AX ) descendants will be established before You.”
1 Hear my prayer, ( A ) Lord ;
let my cry for help ( B ) come to you.
2 Do not hide your face ( C ) from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear ( D ) to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
3 For my days vanish like smoke; ( E )
my bones ( F ) burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass; ( G )
I forget to eat my food. ( H )
5 In my distress I groan aloud ( I )
and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl, ( J )
like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake; ( K ) I have become
like a bird alone ( L ) on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies ( M ) taunt me; ( N )
those who rail against me use my name as a curse. ( O )
9 For I eat ashes ( P ) as my food
and mingle my drink with tears ( Q )
10 because of your great wrath, ( R )
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow; ( S )
I wither ( T ) away like grass.
12 But you, Lord , sit enthroned forever; ( U )
your renown endures ( V ) through all generations. ( W )
13 You will arise ( X ) and have compassion ( Y ) on Zion,
for it is time ( Z ) to show favor ( AA ) to her;
the appointed time ( AB ) has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will fear ( AC ) the name of the Lord ,
all the kings ( AD ) of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion ( AE )
and appear in his glory. ( AF )
17 He will respond to the prayer ( AG ) of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
18 Let this be written ( AH ) for a future generation,
that a people not yet created ( AI ) may praise the Lord :
19 “The Lord looked down ( AJ ) from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners ( AK )
and release those condemned to death.”
21 So the name of the Lord will be declared ( AL ) in Zion
and his praise ( AM ) in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship ( AN ) the Lord .
23 In the course of my life [ b ] he broke my strength;
he cut short my days. ( AO )
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on ( AP ) through all generations.
25 In the beginning ( AQ ) you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens ( AR ) are the work of your hands. ( AS )
26 They will perish, ( AT ) but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same, ( AU )
and your years will never end. ( AV )
28 The children of your servants ( AW ) will live in your presence;
their descendants ( AX ) will be established before you.”
