BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 102

Psalms book home•Chapter 102 of 150•28 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Psalms 102 Overview

The sufferer describes wasting away, isolation, reproach, and Zion's desolation, then turns to God's everlasting throne, future mercy to Zion, and the Creator's unchanging permanence.

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102Chapter

28Verses

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Before you read Psalms 102

Coming from

Psalm 101 centered on a king resolves to govern his house and realm with integrity. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

The sufferer describes wasting away, isolation, reproach, and Zion's desolation, then turns to God's everlasting throne, future mercy to Zion, and the Creator's unchanging permanence.

Leads into

Psalm 103 turns to bless the lord for forgiveness, compassion, and covenant mercy, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 102 belongs to Book IV of the Psalter (Psalms 90–106). Hebrews 1:10-12 applies Psalm 102:25-27 to the Son, giving explicit New Testament weight to its language about the unchanging Creator.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

An afflicted man looks from personal ruin to God's enduring reign.

Lament truth

In Psalm 102, biblical faith brings grief, fear, confusion, and need directly to God rather than hiding them.

Messianic truth

In Psalm 102, later Scripture shows that the royal or suffering language here reaches its fullest significance in Jesus Christ.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Hebrews 1:10-12

Hebrews applies Psalm 102:25-27 to the Son, affirming His permanence over changing creation.

Lament connection

Hebrews 4:15-16 invites believers to come boldly for mercy and grace in need. This connection helps frame Psalm 102.

Messianic connection

Luke 24:44 says the Psalms, along with the Law and Prophets, speak concerning Christ. This connection helps frame Psalm 102.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep lament in context

Do not mistake every anguished sentence in Psalm 102 for the psalmist’s settled theological conclusion; lament often voices how the crisis feels before faith answers it.

Keep messianic in context

Give explicit New Testament interpretation priority in Psalm 102; do not manufacture additional prophetic details beyond what Scripture establishes.

Read Psalms 102 watching for…

smoke and bones.

pelican and sparrow.

Zion stones.

generation to come.

earth change but thou endurest.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-11An afflicted man pours out weakness, loneliness, and fading days before the LORD 12-22The eternal LORD will arise for Zion, and future generations and nations will praise him 23-28Human strength and years fail, but God remains the same and his people continue before him

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.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.

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Psalms 102:16

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