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Psalm 102-104
New Life Version
Psalm 102-104
New Life Version
The Prayer of a Man in Trouble
102 Hear my prayer, O Lord! Let my cry for help come to You. 2 Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble. Turn Your ear to me. Hurry to answer me in the day when I call. 3 For my days go up in smoke. And my bones are burned as with fire. 4 My heart is crushed and dried like grass. And I forget to eat my food. 5 I am nothing but skin and bones because of my loud cries. 6 I am like a pelican in the desert. I am like an owl of the waste places. 7 I lie awake. And I feel like a bird alone on the roof.
8 Those who hate me have made it hard for me all day long. Those who are angry with me curse my name. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread and have mixed my drink with tears, 10 because of Your great anger. For You have lifted me up and thrown me away. 11 My days are like the evening shadow. I dried up like grass.
12 But You and Your name, O Lord, will always be forever and to all people for all time. 13 You will rise up and have loving-pity on Zion. For it is time to show favor to her. The set time has come. 14 For Your servants respect her stones and show pity for her dust. 15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord. All the kings of the earth will fear Your shining-greatness. 16 For the Lord has built up Zion. He will come in His shining-greatness. 17 He will answer the prayer of those in need. He will not turn from their prayer.
18 This will be written for the children-to-come. So a people not yet born may give thanks to the Lord. 19 For He looked down from His holy place. He watched the earth from heaven, 20 to hear the loud cries of those in prison and to set free those who are being sent to death. 21 So the name of the Lord will be made known in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem, 22 when the people gather together and the nations gather to serve the Lord.
23 He has taken away my strength. He has taken days from my life. 24 I said, “O my God, do not take me away when my days are only half done. Your years go on to all people of all time. 25 You made the earth in the beginning. You made the heavens with Your hands. 26 They will be destroyed but You will always live. They will all become old as clothing becomes old. You will change them like a coat. And they will be changed, 27 but You are always the same. Your years will never end. 28 The children of those who work for You will live on. And their children will be set before You.”
Praise for God’s Love
103 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle.
6 The Lord does what is right and fair for all who suffer under a bad power. 7 He made His ways known to Moses and His acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is full of loving-pity and kindness. He is slow to anger and has much loving-kindness. 9 He will not always keep after us. And He will not keep His anger back forever. 10 He has not punished us enough for all our sins. He has not paid us back for all our wrong-doings. 11 For His loving-kindness for those who fear Him is as great as the heavens are high above the earth. 12 He has taken our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord has loving-pity on those who fear Him, as a father has loving-pity on his children. 14 For He knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust.
15 The days of man are like grass. He grows like a flower of the field. 16 When the wind blows over it, it is gone. Its place will remember it no more. 17 But the loving-kindness of the Lord is forever and forever on those who fear Him. And what is right with God is given forever to their children’s children, 18 to those who keep His agreement and remember to obey His Law.
19 The Lord has set up His throne in the heavens. And His holy nation rules over all. 20 Praise the Lord, you powerful angels of His who do what He says, obeying His voice as He speaks! 21 Praise the Lord, all you armies of His who work for Him and do what pleases Him. 22 Praise the Lord, all His works in all places under His rule. Praise the Lord, O my soul!
The Lord Watches Over All His Works
104 Praise the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great. You are dressed with great honor and wonderful power. 2 He covers Himself with light as with a coat. He spreads out the heavens like a tent. 3 He makes His home on the waters. He makes the clouds His wagon. He rides on the wings of the wind. 4 He makes the winds carry His news. He makes His helpers a burning fire.
5 He set the earth in its place so that it will stay that way forever. 6 You covered it with the sea as with a coat. The waters stood above the mountains. 7 The waters left at Your strong words. They went away in a hurry at the sound of Your thunder. 8 The mountains went up and the valleys went down to the place that You made for them. 9 You set a place that they may not pass over. The waters will never cover the earth again.
10 He sends rivers into the valleys. They flow between the mountains. 11 They give water to all the animals of the field. The wild donkeys drink until they are no longer thirsty. 12 The birds of the sky nest beside them. They sing among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from His home above. The earth is filled with the fruit of His works.
14 He makes the grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to use. So He may bring food from the earth, 15 wine that makes man’s heart glad, oil to make his face shine, and food to make his heart strong. 16 The tall cedar trees that the Lord planted in Lebanon drink their fill. 17 The birds make their nests there. The stork has its nest in the green trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a safe place for the badgers. 19 He made the moon to mark the time of year. And the sun knows when to go down. 20 You make darkness and it becomes night. Then all the wild animals among the trees come out. 21 The young lions make a loud noise as they go after meat. And they get their food from God. 22 They go to their homes and lie down when the sun rises. 23 Then man goes out to his work and works until evening.
24 O Lord, how many are Your works! You made them all in wisdom. The earth is full of what You have made. 25 There is the wide sea full of both large and small animals. There are too many for us to number. 26 The ships sail there. And the very large sea animal You have made plays in it.
27 They all wait for You to give them their food at the right time. 28 You give it to them and they gather it up. You open Your hand and they are filled with good things. 29 They are troubled and afraid when You hide Your face. And when You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. 30 They are made when You send Your Spirit. And You make the land of the earth new again.
31 May the shining-greatness of the Lord last forever. May the Lord be glad in His works. 32 He looks at the earth and it shakes with fear. He touches the mountains and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 34 May the words of my heart be pleasing to Him. As for me, I will be glad in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be destroyed from the earth. And let the sinful be no more. Honor the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 102-104
New International Version
Psalm 102-104
New International Version
Psalm 102[a]
A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.
1 Hear my prayer,(A) Lord;
let my cry for help(B) come to you.
2 Do not hide your face(C) from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear(D) to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
3 For my days vanish like smoke;(E)
my bones(F) burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass;(G)
I forget to eat my food.(H)
5 In my distress I groan aloud(I)
and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl,(J)
like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake;(K) I have become
like a bird alone(L) on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies(M) taunt me;(N)
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.(O)
9 For I eat ashes(P) as my food
and mingle my drink with tears(Q)
10 because of your great wrath,(R)
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow;(S)
I wither(T) away like grass.
12 But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;(U)
your renown endures(V) through all generations.(W)
13 You will arise(X) and have compassion(Y) on Zion,
for it is time(Z) to show favor(AA) to her;
the appointed time(AB) has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will fear(AC) the name of the Lord,
all the kings(AD) of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion(AE)
and appear in his glory.(AF)
17 He will respond to the prayer(AG) of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
18 Let this be written(AH) for a future generation,
that a people not yet created(AI) may praise the Lord:
19 “The Lord looked down(AJ) from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners(AK)
and release those condemned to death.”
21 So the name of the Lord will be declared(AL) in Zion
and his praise(AM) in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship(AN) the Lord.
23 In the course of my life[b] he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.(AO)
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on(AP) through all generations.
25 In the beginning(AQ) you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens(AR) are the work of your hands.(AS)
26 They will perish,(AT) but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same,(AU)
and your years will never end.(AV)
28 The children of your servants(AW) will live in your presence;
their descendants(AX) will be established before you.”
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord,(AY) my soul;(AZ)
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(BA)
2 Praise the Lord,(BB) my soul,
and forget not(BC) all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins(BD)
and heals(BE) all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life(BF) from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,(BG)
5 who satisfies(BH) your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed(BI) like the eagle’s.(BJ)
7 He made known(BM) his ways(BN) to Moses,
his deeds(BO) to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(BP)
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;(BQ)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve(BR)
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love(BS) for those who fear him;(BT)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions(BU) from us.
13 As a father has compassion(BV) on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,(BW)
he remembers that we are dust.(BX)
15 The life of mortals is like grass,(BY)
they flourish like a flower(BZ) of the field;
16 the wind blows(CA) over it and it is gone,
and its place(CB) remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children(CC)—
18 with those who keep his covenant(CD)
and remember(CE) to obey his precepts.(CF)
20 Praise the Lord,(CI) you his angels,(CJ)
you mighty ones(CK) who do his bidding,(CL)
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,(CM)
you his servants(CN) who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works(CO)
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.(CP)
Psalm 104
1 Praise the Lord, my soul.(CQ)
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.(CR)
2 The Lord wraps(CS) himself in light(CT) as with a garment;
he stretches(CU) out the heavens(CV) like a tent(CW)
3 and lays the beams(CX) of his upper chambers on their waters.(CY)
He makes the clouds(CZ) his chariot(DA)
and rides on the wings of the wind.(DB)
4 He makes winds his messengers,[c](DC)
flames of fire(DD) his servants.
5 He set the earth(DE) on its foundations;(DF)
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it(DG) with the watery depths(DH) as with a garment;
the waters stood(DI) above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke(DJ) the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder(DK) they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned(DL) for them.
9 You set a boundary(DM) they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs(DN) pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water(DO) to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys(DP) quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky(DQ) nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.(DR)
13 He waters the mountains(DS) from his upper chambers;(DT)
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.(DU)
14 He makes grass grow(DV) for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food(DW) from the earth:
15 wine(DX) that gladdens human hearts,
oil(DY) to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains(DZ) their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord(EA) are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon(EB) that he planted.
17 There the birds(EC) make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;(ED)
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.(EE)
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,(EF)
and the sun(EG) knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness,(EH) it becomes night,(EI)
and all the beasts of the forest(EJ) prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey(EK)
and seek their food from God.(EL)
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.(EM)
23 Then people go out to their work,(EN)
to their labor until evening.(EO)
24 How many are your works,(EP) Lord!
In wisdom you made(EQ) them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.(ER)
25 There is the sea,(ES) vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.(ET)
26 There the ships(EU) go to and fro,
and Leviathan,(EV) which you formed to frolic(EW) there.(EX)
27 All creatures look to you
to give them their food(EY) at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied(EZ) with good things.
29 When you hide your face,(FA)
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.(FB)
30 When you send your Spirit,(FC)
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord(FD) endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works(FE)—
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,(FF)
who touches the mountains,(FG) and they smoke.(FH)
33 I will sing(FI) to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice(FJ) in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish(FK) from the earth
and the wicked be no more.(FL)
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Footnotes
- Psalm 102:1 In Hebrew texts 102:1-28 is numbered 102:2-29.
- Psalm 102:23 Or By his power
- Psalm 104:4 Or angels
- Psalm 104:35 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; in the Septuagint this line stands at the beginning of Psalm 105.
New Life Version (NLV)
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.