Psalms

Introduction
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PSALM 102^*

Prayer in Time of Distress

1The prayer of one afflicted and wasting away whose anguish is poured out before the LORD.

I

2LORD, hear my prayer;

let my cry come to you.

3Do not hide your face from me

in the day of my distress.^a

Turn your ear to me;

when I call, answer me quickly.

4For my days vanish like smoke;^b

my bones burn away as in a furnace.

5My heart is withered, dried up like grass,

too wasted to eat my food.

6From my loud groaning

I become just skin and bones.

7I am like a desert owl,

like an owl among the ruins.

8I lie awake and moan,

like a lone sparrow on the roof.

9All day long my enemies taunt me;

in their rage, they make my name a curse.^*

10I eat ashes like bread,

mingle my drink with tears.^c

11Because of your furious wrath,

you lifted me up just to cast me down.

12^dMy days are like a lengthening shadow;^e

I wither like the grass.

II

13But you, LORD, are enthroned forever;

your renown is for all generations.^f

14You will again show mercy to Zion;

now is the time for pity;

the appointed time has come.

15Its stones are dear to your servants;

its dust moves them to pity.

16The nations shall fear your name, LORD,

all the kings of the earth, your glory,^g

17Once the LORD has rebuilt Zion

and appeared in glory,

18Heeding the plea of the lowly,

not scorning their prayer.

19Let this be written for the next generation,

for a people not yet born,

that they may praise the LORD:^h

20^*“The LORD looked down from the holy heights,

viewed the earth from heaven,ⁱ

21To attend to the groaning of the prisoners,

to release those doomed to die.”^j

22Then the LORD’s name will be declared on Zion,

his praise in Jerusalem,

23When peoples and kingdoms gather

to serve the LORD.^k

III

24He has shattered my strength in mid-course,

has cut short my days.

25I plead, O my God,

do not take me in the midst of my days.^*^l

Your years last through all generations.

26Of old you laid the earth’s foundations;^m

the heavens are the work of your hands.

27They perish, but you remain;

they all wear out like a garment;

Like clothing you change them and they are changed,

28but you are the same, your years have no end.

29May the children of your servants live on;

may their descendants live in your presence.ⁿ

* [Psalm 102] A lament, one of the Penitential Psalms. The psalmist, experiencing psychological and bodily disintegration (Ps 102:4–12), cries out to God (Ps 102:1–3). In the Temple precincts where God has promised to be present, the psalmist recalls God’s venerable promises to save the poor (Ps 102:13–23). The final part (Ps 102:24–28) restates the original complaint and prayer, and emphasizes God’s eternity.

* [102:9] They make my name a curse: enemies use the psalmist’s name in phrases such as, “May you be as wretched as this person!”

* [102:20–23] Both Ps 102:20–21 and Ps 102:22–23 depend on Ps 102:19.

* [102:25] In the midst of my days: when the normal span of life is but half completed, cf. Is 38:10; Jer 17:11.

a. [102:3] Ps 69:18; 143:7.

b. [102:4–6] Ps 38:7–9.

c. [102:10] Ps 42:4; 80:6.

d. [102:12] Ps 109:23; 144:4; Jb 8:9; 14:2; Eccl 6:12; Wis 2:5.

e. [102:12] Ps 90:5–6.

f. [102:13] Ps 55:20; 90:2; 93:2; 135:13; 145:13; Lam 5:19; Heb 1:12.

g. [102:16] Is 59:19; 66:18.

h. [102:19] Ps 22:31–32.

i. [102:20] Ps 11:4; 14:2.