The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the Lord.
102:1 O Lord, hear my prayer!
Pay attention to my cry for help!
102:2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble!
Listen to me!
When I call out to you, quickly answer me!
102:3 For my days go up in smoke,
and my bones are charred like a fireplace.
102:4 My heart is parched and withered like grass,
for I am unable to eat food.
102:5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan,
my bones protrude from my skin.
102:6 I am like an owl in the wilderness;
I am like a screech owl among the ruins.
102:7 I stay awake;
I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
102:8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who mock me use my name in their curses.
102:9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread,
and mix my drink with my tears,
102:10 because of your anger and raging fury.
Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away.
102:11 My days are coming to an end,
and I am withered like grass.
102:12 But you, O Lord, rule forever,
and your reputation endures.
102:13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion.
For it is time to have mercy on her,
for the appointed time has come.
102:14 Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones,
and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
102:15 The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor,
102:16 when the Lord rebuilds Zion,
and reveals his splendor,
102:17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute,
and does not reject their request.
102:18 The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations;
people yet to be born will praise the Lord.
102:19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above;
from heaven the Lord will look toward earth,
102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners,
and to set free those condemned to die,
102:21 so they may proclaim the name of the Lord in Zion,
and praise him in Jerusalem,
102:22 when the nations gather together,
and the kingdoms pay tribute to the Lord.
102:23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life;
he has cut short my days.
102:24 I say, “O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life!
You endure through all generations.
102:25 In earlier times you established the earth;
the skies are your handiwork.
102:26 They will perish,
but you will endure.
They will wear out like a garment;
like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.
102:27 But you remain;
your years do not come to an end.
102:28 The children of your servants will settle down here,
and their descendants will live securely in your presence.”