102
A prayer of an afflicted person, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.
1 LORD, hear my prayer;
let my cry for help come to you.
2 Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a hearth.
4 My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my groaning, my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a pelican in the wilderness, like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake, like a lonely bird on a rooftop.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who rage against me use me in their curses.
9 For I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears,
10 because of your indignation and wrath, for you have lifted me up and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither like grass.
12 But you, LORD, are enthroned forever;
your remembrance endures to all generations.
13 You will rise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor;
the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants cherish her stones and show favor to her dust.
15 The nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For the LORD will have rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory.
17 He will have turned to the prayer of the destitute and not despised their prayer.
18 Let this be written for a generation to come, and a people yet to be created will praise the LORD.
19 For he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth,
20 to hear the groaning of the prisoner and release those doomed to die,
21 that the name of the LORD may be proclaimed in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 He weakened my strength along the way;
he shortened my days.
24 I say, “My God, do not take me away in the midst of my days;
your years endure through all generations.
25 Long ago you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them, and they will be changed.
27 But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
28 The children of your servants will dwell secure, and their offspring will be established before you.”