Psalms 102

102 ¹ Hear my prayer, our Father; let my cry for help come to you. ² Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me; on the day I call, answer me quickly.

³ For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. ⁴ My heart is struck down and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. ⁵ Because of my groaning, I am wasted to skin and bones. ⁶ I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl among the ruins. ^a a v6 The desert owl and the owl among the ruins were birds of forsaken, desolate places — vivid images of total loneliness and abandonment. ⁷ I lie awake; I have become like a lone sparrow on a rooftop. ⁸ All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rage against me use my name as a curse. ⁹ For I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears, ¹⁰ because of your indignation and your wrath; for you lifted me up and cast me away. ¹¹ My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass.

¹² But you, our Father, are enthroned forever; your renown endures to all generations. ¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor; the appointed time has come. ¹⁴ For your servants take delight in her stones and show compassion for her dust. ¹⁵ The nations will fear the name of our Father, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. ¹⁶ For our Father will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory. ¹⁷ He will listen to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their pleading.

¹⁸ Let this be written for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise our Father: ¹⁹ that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven our Father gazed upon the earth, ²⁰ to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those condemned to death, ²¹ so that the name of our Father may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, ²² when peoples and kingdoms gather together to worship our Father.

²³ He has broken my strength along the way; he has cut short my days. ²⁴ So I said, "My Father, do not take me away in the middle of my life—you whose years endure through all generations." ²⁵ Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. ^b b v25 Hebrews 1:10-12 applies these words to Jesus — our Lord Jesus, the eternal Son through whom our Father made all things. ²⁶ They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like clothing, and they will pass away. ²⁷ But you are the same, and your years will never end. ²⁸ The children of your servants will dwell secure, and their offspring will stand firm before you.