Psalm 102:1-28 NIrV

[1] LORD, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help. [2] Don’t turn your face away from me when I’m in trouble. Pay attention to me. When I call out for help, answer me quickly. [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.”