Psalms 102
Old Testament · King James Version
Psalm 102 is a prayer of an afflicted person whose suffering is described with bodily weakness, isolation, humiliation, grief, and fear of shortened life. The poem then turns toward God's permanence, compassion for Zion, attention to the destitute, future generations, and the Creator who outlasts creation.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.
Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
Context
An individual lament with strong communal and Zion themes, moving from personal anguish to restoration hope and the contrast between mortal humanity and the eternal Creator.
Themes & application
- Lament
- Human frailty
- Zion
- Compassion
- Future generations
- God's eternity
Bring anguish honestly before God, resist reading suffering as automatic proof of divine anger, care for the isolated and powerless, and anchor hope in God's enduring character.
Key verses
The prayer begins with an urgent request to be heard.
The poem turns from human frailty to God's enduring reign.
God's attention to the destitute becomes a central ground of hope.
God's unchanging life stands against human and cosmic transience.
Common misreadings of Psalms 102
Misreading: Suffering in Psalm 102 proves that every sufferer is under God's anger.
In context: The psalm records one afflicted person's lament and interpretation; it does not establish that rule.
Misreading: Zion restoration language gives modern political actors unconditional divine authorization.
In context: The text belongs to an ancient covenant and worship context and does not transfer unlimited authority to modern states or movements.
Misreading: The gathering of nations authorizes coercive religion.
In context: The psalm envisions worship of God; it does not authorize forced conversion or empire.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 40:28 — God's enduring strength and creative sovereignty.
- Hebrews 1:10–12 — Later biblical reuse of Psalm 102:25–27.
Frequently asked questions about Psalms 102
Does Psalm 102 teach that suffering always means God is angry?
Does Psalm 102 guarantee a modern political restoration of Zion?
Sources & editorial notes
- Translation
- Commentary anchored in the public-domain Psalm 102 text used by the site (en).
- Authorship
- The psalm heading presents a prayer of an afflicted person and does not name an individual author.
- Editorial process
- Synthesis checked against literary movements and safeguards around suffering, Zion, nations, imprisonment, mortality, and divine eternity.
References
- Psalm 102 — Primary text and literary structure.
- Isaiah 40:28 — Creator and divine endurance.
- Hebrews 1:10–12 — Later reuse of Psalm 102:25–27.
Author: The Lord Will Editorial Team · Reviewed by: Ugo Candido · Updated: 2026-08-21