Psalm 102

Modern English Version

³ For my days are consumed like smoke,
    and my bones are burned as a furnace.
⁴ My heart is struck down and withered like grass,
    so that I forget to eat my bread.
⁵ Because of the sound of my groaning
    my bones cling to my skin.
⁶ I am like an owl of the wilderness,
    like a screech owl of the desert.
⁷ I stay awake and am
    as a sparrow alone upon the housetop.
⁸ My enemies reproach me all the day,
    and those who taunt me curse my name.
⁹ For I have eaten ashes like bread
    and mixed my drink with weeping,
¹⁰ because of Your indignation and Your wrath,
    for You have lifted me up, and cast me down.
¹¹ My days are like an evening shadow that vanishes,
    and I wither away like grass.

¹² But You, O Lord, shall endure forever enthroned
    and Your reputation to all generations.
¹³ You shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion,
    for the time to favor her,
    indeed, the appointed time has come.
¹⁴ For Your servants take pleasure in her stones,
    and have pity on her dust.
¹⁵ So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord,
    and all the kings of the earth Your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord shall build up Zion;
    He shall appear in His glory.
¹⁷ He will regard the prayer of the destitute
    and will not despise their prayer.

¹⁸ Let this be written for the generation to come,
    that a people who shall be created shall praise the Lord.
¹⁹ For He has looked down from the height of His sanctuary;
    from heaven the Lord looked down on the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groaning of the prisoners
    and to set free those who are appointed to death,
²¹ that they may declare the name of the Lord in Zion
    and His praise in Jerusalem;
²² when the peoples are gathered together,
    and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

²³ He has weakened my strength in my midlife;
    He has shortened my days.
²⁴ I said,
    “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days—
    Your years endure throughout all generations.”
²⁵ From before You have laid the foundation of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
²⁶ They shall perish, but You shall endure;
    indeed, all of them shall wear out like a garment;
like a robe You shall change them,
    and they shall pass away,
²⁷ but You are the same,
    and Your years shall have no end.
²⁸ The children of Your servants shall be secure,
    and their offspring shall be established before You.