Psalm 102:1-Psalm 103:1 - Affliction In Light Of Eternity

¹ Hear my prayer, O Jehovah! And let my cry for help come to you. ² Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me. In the day when I call answer me quickly.

³ My days have been consumed in smoke, and my bones have been scorched like a hearth. ⁴ My heart has been stricken like grass and has withered away. In fact I forget to eat my bread. ⁵ Because of the loudness of my groaning my bones cling to my flesh. ⁶ I resemble a pelican of the wilderness. I have become like an owl of the waste places. ⁷ I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop. ⁸ All day long my enemies have reproached me. Those who deride me used my name as a curse. ⁹ For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping. ¹⁰ This is because of your indignation and your anger. You have lifted me up and cast me away. ¹¹ My days are like a lengthened shadow and I wither away like grass.

¹² But You, O Jehovah, remain forever. Your name is for all generations. ¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion. It is time to be gracious to her for the appointed time has come. ¹⁴ Your servants find pleasure in her stones and feel pity for her dust.

¹⁵ So the nations will respect the name of Jehovah and all the kings of the earth will honor you. ¹⁶ For Jehovah has built up Zion. He has appeared in His glory. ¹⁷ He has respected 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 Jehovah. ¹⁹ He looked down from his holy height. Jehovah gazed upon the earth from heaven. ²⁰ He heard the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who were doomed to death. ²¹ Let men tell of the Jehovah's name in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem, ²² When the peoples and kingdoms are gathered together to serve Jehovah.

²³ He has weakened my strength in the way and has shortened my days. ²⁴ I say: O my God, do not take me away in the middle of my days, your years are throughout all generations. ²⁵ You founded the earth of old. The heavens are the work of your hands. ²⁶ They will perish, but you endure. All of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing you will renew them and they will be renewed. ²⁷ But you are the same. Your years will not come to an end. ²⁸ The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Bless Jehovah with all my being. With all that I am I praise his holy name!