Psalm 102¹⁴

The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD
102:1 O LORD, hear my prayer!
Pay attention to my cry for help!¹
102:2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble!²
Listen to me!³
When I call out to you, quickly answer me!
102:3 For my days go up in smoke,⁴
and my bones are charred like a fireplace.⁵
102:4 My heart is parched⁶ and withered like grass,
for I am unable⁷ to eat food.
102:5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan,
my bones protrude from my skin.⁸
102:6 I am like an owl⁹ in the wilderness,
I am like a screech owl¹⁰ among the ruins.¹¹
102:7 I stay awake,¹²
I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
102:8 All day long my enemies taunt me,
those who mock me use my name in their curses.¹³
102:9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread,¹⁴
and mix my drink with my tears,¹⁵
102:10 because of your anger and raging fury.
Indeed¹⁶ you pick me and throw me away.
102:11 My days are coming to an end,¹⁷
and I am withered like grass.
102:12 But you, O LORD, rule forever,¹⁸
and your reputation endures.¹⁹
102:13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion.²⁰
For it is time to have mercy on her,
for the appointed time has come.
102:14 Indeed²¹ your servants take delight in her stones,
and feel compassion for²² the dust of her ruins.²³
102:15 The nations will respect the reputation of the LORD,²⁴
and all the kings of the earth will respect²⁵ his splendor,
102:16 when the LORD rebuilds Zion,
and reveals his splendor,
102:17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute,²⁶
and does not reject²⁷ their request.²⁸
102:18 The account of his intervention²⁹ will be recorded for future generations,
people yet to be born will praise the LORD.
102:19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above,³⁰
from heaven the LORD will look toward earth,³¹
102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners,
and to set free those condemned to die,³²
102:21 so they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion,
and praise him³³ in Jerusalem,
102:22 when the nations gather together,
and the kingdoms pay tribute to the LORD.³⁴
102:23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life,³⁵
he has cut short my days.
102:24 I say, “O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life!³⁶
You endure through all generations.³⁷
102:25 In earlier times you established the earth,
the skies are your handiwork.
102:26 They will perish,
but you will endure.³⁸
They will wear out like a garment,
like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.³⁹
102:27 But you remain,⁴⁰
your years do not come to an end.
102:28 The children of your servants will settle down here,
and their offspring will live securely in your presence.⁴¹