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Psalm 102

Prayer to the Eternal King for Help

A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the Lord.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    let my cry come to you.(A)
Do not hide your face from me
    in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
    answer me speedily in the day when I call.(B)

For my days pass away like smoke,
    and my bones burn like a furnace.(C)
My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
    I am too wasted to eat my bread.(D)
Because of my loud groaning,
    my bones cling to my skin.(E)
I am like a desert owl[a] of the wilderness,
    like a little owl of the waste places.(F)
I lie awake;
    I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.(G)
All day long my enemies taunt me;
    those who deride me use my name for a curse.(H)
Indeed, I eat ashes like bread
    and mingle tears with my drink,(I)
10 because of your indignation and anger,
    for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like a lengthening shadow;
    I wither away like grass.(J)

12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
    your name endures to all generations.(K)
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
    for it is time to favor it;
    the appointed time has come.(L)
14 For your servants hold its stones dear
    and have pity on its dust.
15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord
    and all the kings of the earth your glory.(M)
16 For the Lord will build up Zion;
    he will appear in his glory.(N)
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute
    and will not despise their prayer.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 102.6 Meaning of Heb uncertain