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Psalm chapter 102

English Standard Version

1 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! 3For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. 4My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. 5Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. 6I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places; 7I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop. 8All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. 9For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, 10because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down. 11My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. 13You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come. 14For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust. 15Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. 16For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory; 17he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. 18Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: 19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, 20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, 21that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, 22when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord. 23He 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, 27but 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.
New International Version

1A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord. Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you.
2Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. 3For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. 4My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. 5In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. 6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. 7I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. 9For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears 10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. 13You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. 14For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. 15The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. 16For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. 18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: 19"The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, 20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." 21So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord. 23In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. 24So I said: "Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. 25In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27But you remain the same, and your years will never end. 28The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."
New American Standard Bible

1 Hear 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 grass and has withered, Indeed, I forget to eat my bread. 5Because of the loudness of my groaning My bones cling 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. 8My enemies have taunted me all day long; Those who deride me have 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 lengthened shadow, And I wither away like grass. 12But You, Lord, remain forever, And Your name 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 take pleasure in her stones, And feel pity for her dust. 15 So the nations 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 destitute And has not despised their prayer. 18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: 19For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven the Lord looked upon the earth, 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those 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. 23He 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 throughout all generations. 25In time of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 Even 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. 27But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end. 28The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.'
Christian Standard Bible

1A prayer of a suffering person who is weak and pours out his lament before the Lord. Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before you.
2Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble. Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call. 3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. 4My heart is suffering, withered like grass; I even forget to eat my food. 5Because of the sound of my groaning, my flesh sticks to my bones. 6I am like an eagle owl, like a little owl among the ruins. 7I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof. 8My enemies taunt me all day long; they ridicule and use my name as a curse. 9I eat ashes like bread and mingle my drinks with tears 10because of your indignation and wrath; for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.
11My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass. 12But you, Lord, are enthroned forever; your fame endures to all generations. 13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her— the appointed time has come.
14For your servants take delight in its stones and favor its dust. 15Then the nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory, 16for the Lord will rebuild Zion; he will appear in his glory.
17He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer. 18This will be written for a later generation, and a people who have not yet been created will praise the Lord: 19He looked down from his holy heights— the Lord gazed out from heaven to earth — 20to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to set free those condemned to die, 21so that they might declare the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem,
22when peoples and kingdoms are assembled to serve the Lord. 23He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days. 24I say: "My God, do not take me in the middle of my life! Your years continue through all generations. 25Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26They will perish, but you will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away. 27But you are the same, and your years will never end. 28Your servants’ children will dwell securely, and their offspring will be established before you."
New Living Translation

1Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! 2Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you. 3For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals. 4My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite. 5Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones. 6I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness. 7I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof. 8My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me. 9I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink 10because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out. 11My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.
12But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation. 13You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem — and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help. 14For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets. 15Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory. 16For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory. 17He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.
18Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord. 19Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven 20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. 21And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem, 22when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.
23He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days. 24But I cried to him, 'O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young! 25Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. 26They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them. 27But you are always the same; you will live forever. 28The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.'
King James Version

1A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.
2Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.
19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;
20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
New King James Version

1{A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.} Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You. 2 Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily. 3For my days are consumed like smoke, And my bones are burned like a hearth. 4My heart is stricken and withered like grass, So that I forget to eat my bread. 5Because of the sound of my groaning My bones cling to my skin. 6I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. 7I lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. 8My enemies reproach me all day long; Those who deride me swear an oath against me. 9For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping, 10Because of Your indignation and Your wrath; For You have lifted me up and cast me away. 11My days are like a shadow that lengthens, And I wither away like grass. 12But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations. 13You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come. 14For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, And show favor to her dust. 15So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, And all the kings of the earth Your glory. 16For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. 17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. 18This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. 19For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; From heaven the Lord viewed the earth, 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those appointed to death, 21To 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. 23He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days. 24 I said, “O my God, Do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are 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 endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 27But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. 28 The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.”

What does Psalm chapter 102 mean?

This psalm is not tied to a specific author or event. Unlike other psalms, its subtitle seems to mention when the song is appropriate, rather than listing an author or a particular inspiration. This may reflect the angst of a Jewish person waiting for Israel to be brought back from exile in Babylon. Or it may simply be the sincere suffering felt by someone in pain.

The song begins with a plea to be seen and heard by God. This doesn't suggest that the Lord is ignorant. Rather, it's a way of emphasizing how much the psalmist wants the Lord's rescue. The writer compares his sorry state to charred ashes, dying grass, solitary desert animals, and a fading evening shadow (Psalm 102:1–11).

Despite this pain, the psalmist recognizes that God is in full control. The song anticipates the Lord's intervention at the right time—God's time—and that worldwide understanding will come along as well. Even in hard circumstances, there is hope in knowing that the Lord will make things right in the end. The psalmist wants future generations to remember these things so they will learn to love God (Psalm 102:12–22).

The psalmist is deeply suffering, but also realizes that the Lord God is in control of all things. The writer prays for longer life, so he can see more of the Lord's promises fulfilled. Yet he seems to know that his days are numbered. There is comfort in knowing that God will go on forever. And there is encouragement in thinking about future generations who will live under God's perfect rule. The first chapter of the book of Hebrews cites parts of this passage (Psalm 102:23–28).
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