Psalm 102 (NASB2020)
Psalm 102
Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.
A Prayer of the afflicted when he is weak and 102:0 Ps 142:2pours out his complaint before the Lord.
1Hear my prayer, Lord!
And let my cry for help come to You.
2Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
Incline Your ear to me;
On the day when I call answer me quickly.
3For my days have ended in smoke,
And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
4My heart has been struck like 102:4 Lit herbagegrass and has withered,
Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
5Because of the 102:5 Lit voiceloudness of my groaning
My bones 102:5 Lit have cleavedcling to my flesh.
6I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the ruins.
7I lie awake,
I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.
8¶My enemies have taunted me all day long;
Those who 102:8 Or made a fool ofderide me 102:8 Lit have sworn by mehave used my name as a curse.
9For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And mixed my drink with weeping
10Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.
11My days are like a 102:11 Lit stretched outlengthened shadow,
And 102:11 Or as for me, II wither away like 102:11 Lit herbagegrass.
12¶But You, Lord, 102:12 Or sit enthronedremain forever,
And Your 102:12 Lit memorialname remains to all generations.
13You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
For it is time to be gracious to her,
For the appointed time has come.
14Surely Your servants 102:14 Or have foundtake pleasure in her stones,
And feel pity for her dust.
15 102:15 Or AndSo the 102:15 Or Gentiles, heathennations will fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth, Your glory.
16For the Lord has built up Zion;
He has appeared in His glory.
17He has turned His attention to the prayer of the 102:17 Or nakeddestitute
And has not despised their prayer.
18¶102:18 Or Let this be writtenThis will be written for the generation to come,
102:18 Or AndThat a people yet to be created 102:18 Or willmay praise 102:18 Heb Yahthe Lord:
19For He looked down from His holy height;
From heaven the Lord looked 102:19 Lit towardupon the earth,
20To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To set free 102:20 Lit the sons of deaththose who were doomed to death,
21So that people may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
22When the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
23¶He has broken my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days.
24I say, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days,
Your years are 102:24 Lit in generation of generationsthroughout all generations.
25“In time of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26“102:26 Lit They themselvesEven they will perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.
27“But You are 102:27 Lit Hethe same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28“The children of Your servants will continue,
And their 102:28 Lit seeddescendants will be established before You.”
Understand Psalm 102
Walk through Psalm 102 verse by verse, then read what three commentaries say about the chapter. The explanations are written for new readers.
Read the Psalm 102 commentary