Bible Verse Lookup
Chapter 102
Prayer in Time of Distress
1The prayer of one afflicted and wasting away whose anguish is poured out before the Lord.
I
2 LORD, hear my prayer; let my cry come to you. 3Do not hide your face from me now that I am in distress. j Pss 69, 18; 143, 7 . Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. 4For my days vanish like smoke; k 4–6: Ps 38, 7–9 . my bones burn away as in a furnace. 5I am withered, dried up like grass, too wasted to eat my food. 6From my loud groaning I become just skin and bones. 7I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. 8I lie awake and moan, like a lone sparrow on the roof. 9All day long my enemies taunt me; in their rage, they make my name a curse.* 10I eat ashes like bread, mingle my drink with tears. l Pss 42, 4; 80, 6 . 11Because of your furious wrath, you lifted me up just to cast me down. 12My days are like a lengthening shadow; m Pss 109, 23; 144, 4; Jb 8, 9; 14, 2; Eccl 6, 12; Wis 2, 5 . I wither like the grass. n Ps 90, 5–6 .
II
13But you, LORD, are enthroned forever; your renown is for all generations. o Pss 55, 20; 90, 2; 93, 2; 102, 13; 135, 13; 145, 13; Lam 5, 19; Hb 1, 12 . 14You will again show mercy to Zion; now is the time for pity; the appointed time has come. 15Its stones are dear to your servants; its dust moves them to pity. 16The nations shall revere your name, LORD, all the kings of the earth, your glory, p Is 59, 19; 66, 18 . 17Once the LORD has rebuilt Zion and appeared in glory, 18Heeding the plea of the lowly, not scorning their prayer. 19Let this be written for the next generation, for a people not yet born, that they may praise the LORD: q Ps 22, 31–32 . 20“The LORD looked down from the holy heights,* viewed the earth from heaven, r Pss 11, 4; 14, 2 . 21To attend to the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” s Ps 79, 11 . 22Then the LORD's name will be declared on Zion, the praise of God in Jerusalem, 23When all peoples and kingdoms gather to worship the LORD. t Is 60, 3–4; Zec 2, 15; 8, 22 .
III
24God has shattered my strength in mid‐course, has cut short my days. 25I plead, O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days. u Pss 39, 5; 90, 10; Jb 14, 5 . * Your years last through all generations. 26Of old you laid the earth's foundations; v 26–28: Heb 1, 10–12 . the heavens are the work of your hands. 27They perish, but you remain; they all wear out like a garment; Like clothing you change them and they are changed, 28but you are the same, your years have no end. 29May the children of your servants live on; may their descendants live in your presence. w Ps 69, 36–37 .
