Psalm 102

³ My days are disappearing like smoke.
    My body burns like glowing coals.
⁴ My strength has dried up like grass.
    I even forget to eat my food.
⁵ I groan out loud because of my suffering.
    I’m nothing but skin and bones.
⁶ I’m like a desert owl.
    I’m like an owl among destroyed buildings.
⁷ I can’t sleep. I’ve become
    like a bird alone on a roof.
⁸ All day long my enemies laugh at me.
    Those who make fun of me use my name as a curse.
⁹ I eat ashes as my food.
    My tears fall into what I’m drinking.
¹⁰ You were very angry with me.
    So you picked me up and threw me away.
¹¹ The days of my life are like an evening shadow.
    I dry up like grass.

¹² But Lord, you are seated on your throne forever.
    Your fame will continue for all time to come.
¹³ You will rise up and show deep concern for Zion.
    The time has come for you to help Zion.
¹⁴ The stones of your destroyed city are priceless to us.
    Even its dust brings deep concern to us.
¹⁵ The nations will worship the Lord.
    All the kings on earth will respect his glorious power.
¹⁶ The Lord will build Zion again.
    He will appear in his glory.
¹⁷ He will answer the prayer of those who don’t have anything.
    He won’t say no to their cry for help.

¹⁸ Let this be written down for those born after us.
    Then people who are not yet born can praise the Lord.
¹⁹ Here is what should be written.
    “The Lord looked down from his temple in heaven.
    From heaven he viewed the earth.
²⁰ He heard the groans of the prisoners.
    He set free those who were sentenced to death.”
²¹ So people will talk about him in Zion.
    They will praise him in Jerusalem.
²² Nations and kingdoms
    will gather there to worship the Lord.

²³ When I was still young, he took away my strength.
    He wasn’t going to let me live much longer.
²⁴ So I said, “My God, don’t let me die in the middle of my life.
    You will live for all time to come.
²⁵ In the beginning you made the earth secure.
    You placed it on its foundations.
    Your hands created the heavens.
²⁶ They will pass away. But you will remain.
    They will all wear out like a piece of clothing.
You will make them like clothes
    that are taken off and thrown away.
²⁷ But you remain the same.
    Your years will never end.
²⁸ Our children will live with you.
    Their sons and daughters will be safe in your care.”