Psalms 102:1-18

Lord, listen to my prayer! Listen to my cry for help! You can’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Stoop down to hear my prayer and answer me quickly, Lord! For my days of happiness have gone up in smoke. My body is raging with fever, my heart is sick, and I’m consumed by this illness— withered like a dead leaf. I can’t even eat. I’m nothing but skin and bones. Nothing’s left of me but whispered groans. I’m like a pelican of the wilderness, like an owl among the ruins. I’m sleepless, shivering in the cold, forlorn, and friendless, like a lonely bird on the rooftop. My every enemy mocks and insults me incessantly. They even use my name as a curse to speak over others! Because of your great and furious anger against me, all I do is suffer with sorrow, with nothing to eat but a meal of mourning. My crying fills my cup with salty tears! In your wrath you have rejected me, sweeping me away like dirt on the floor. My days are marked by the lengthening shadows of death. I’m withering away and there’s nothing left of me. But then I remember that you, O Lord, still sit enthroned as King over all! The fame of your name will be revealed to every generation. I know you are about to arise and show your tender love to Zion. Now is the time, Lord, for your compassion and mercy to be poured out— the appointed time has come for your prophetic promises to be fulfilled! For your servants weep in sympathy over Zion’s ruins and feel love for her every stone. When you arise to intervene, all the nations and kings will be stunned and will fear your awesome name, trembling before your glory! Yes, you will reveal yourself to Zion and appear in the brightness of your glory to restore her and give her children. He responds to the prayer of the poor and broken and will not despise the cry of the homeless. Write all this down for the coming generation, so re-created people will read it and praise the Lord!