Psalm 102 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

Psalm 102 | New International Reader’s Version

A prayer of a suffering person who has become weak. They pour out their problems to the Lord.

1 LORD, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help. 2 Don’t turn your face away from me when I’m in trouble. Pay attention to me. When I call out for help, answer me quickly. 3 My days are disappearing like smoke. My body burns like glowing coals. 4 My strength has dried up like grass. I even forget to eat my food. 5 I groan out loud because of my suffering. I’m nothing but skin and bones. 6 I’m like a desert owl. I’m like an owl among destroyed buildings. 7 I can’t sleep. I’ve become like a bird alone on a roof. 8 All day long my enemies laugh at me. Those who make fun of me use my name as a curse. 9 I eat ashes as my food. My tears fall into what I’m drinking. 10 You were very angry with me. So you picked me up and threw me away. 11 The days of my life are like an evening shadow. I dry up like grass. 12 But LORD, you are seated on your throne for ever. Your fame will continue for all time to come. 13 You will rise up and show deep concern for Zion. The time has come for you to help Zion. 14 The stones of your destroyed city are priceless to us. Even its dust brings deep concern to us. 15 The nations will worship the LORD. All the kings on earth will respect his glorious power. 16 The LORD will build Zion again. He will appear in his glory. 17 He will answer the prayer of those who don’t have anything. He won’t say no to their cry for help. 18 Let this be written down for those born after us. Then people who are not yet born can praise the LORD. 19 Here is what should be written. ‘The LORD looked down from his temple in heaven. From heaven he viewed the earth. 20 He heard the groans of the prisoners. He set free those who were sentenced to death.’ 21 So people will talk about him in Zion. They will praise him in Jerusalem. 22 Nations and kingdoms will gather there to worship the LORD. 23 When I was still young, he took away my strength. He wasn’t going to let me live much longer. 24 So I said, ‘My God, don’t let me die in the middle of my life. You will live for all time to come. 25 In the beginning you made the earth secure. You placed it on its foundations. Your hands created the heavens. 26 They will pass away. But you will remain. They will all wear out like a piece of clothing. You will make them like clothes that are taken off and thrown away. 27 But you remain the same. Your years will never end. 28 Our children will live with you. Their sons and daughters will be safe in your care.’

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English Standard Version

Do Not Hide Your Face from Me

1 A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! 2 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! 3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. 4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. 5 Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. 6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl* of the waste places; 7 I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop. 8 All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. 9 For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, 10 because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down. 11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. 13 You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come. 14 For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust. 15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. 16 For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory; 17 he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. 18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: 19 that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, 21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, 22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord. 23 He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days. 24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days— you whose years endure throughout all generations!” 25 Of old you laid the foundation of 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. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end. 28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.