Psalm 102
Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on
Himself and on Zion.
Prayer of the Afflicted when he is faint and pours
out his complaint before the LORD.
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD!
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 For my days have been consumed in
smoke,
And my bones have been scorched like
a hearth.
4 My heart has been smitten like grass
and has withered away,
Indeed, 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 My enemies have reproached me all
day long;
Those who deride me have used my
name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread
And mingled my drink with weeping
10 Because of Your indignation and
Your wrath,
For 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 LORD, abide forever,
And Your name to all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion
on Zion;
For it is time to be gracious to her,
For the appointed time has come.
14 Surely Your servants find 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.
16 For the LORD has built up Zion;
He has appeared in His glory.
17 He has regarded 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.
19 For He looked down from His holy height;
From heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To set free those who were doomed to death,
21 That men may tell of 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.
23 He has weakened my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days.
24 I say, "O my God, do not take me away
in the midst of my days,
Your years are throughout all generations.
25 "Of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 "Even they will perish, but You endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they
will be changed.
27 "But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 "The children of Your servants will
continue,
And their descendants will be established
before You."
Psalm 103
Praise for the LORD'S Mercies.
Psalm of David.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His
holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness
and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and
gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in
lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according
to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our
iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are
above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward
those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions
from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on
his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those
who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it
is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD
is from everlasting to everlasting on
those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
19 The LORD has established His throne
in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!