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Psalm 102:23

He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.

21that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
22when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
25Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
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← Psalm 102:22Psalm 102:24 →
Notice

The loss of strength along an unfinished course makes the speaker’s claim hard to hear: God has weakened him and shortened his days.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What feels unfinished in your life as you read about shortened days?

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How does the speaker’s naming of God as the one who weakened him affect your prayer?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

10 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Ecclesiastes 12:3in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who …Both describe failing strength: Ecclesiastes pictures trembling keepers and bowed strong men, while the psalm names strength weakened along life’s course.
Job 6:11What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?Both speakers face the limits of their strength and remaining life, with Job questioning his capacity to keep waiting.
Psalm 89:45You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.Both psalms attribute shortened days to God, speaking to him about a life cut short.
1 Timothy 4:1–3But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,The shared language of time is slight: the psalm concerns shortened life, while Timothy describes departure from faith in later times.
Psalm 89:38–47But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.Both speakers name God as the source of their distress, describing weakened strength in one passage and rejection in the other.
2 Thessalonians 2:3–12Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction.The connection is limited: the psalm laments weakened strength and shortened life, while Thessalonians warns about deception and coming rebellion.
Revelation 11:2–19Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for …Both describe suffering in terms of time, though the psalm concerns one life and Revelation concerns the holy city.
Job 21:21For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?Both speak of a person’s allotted time being cut short, using days in the psalm and months in Job.
2 Timothy 3:1–17But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come.Both speak of distress, though the psalm describes one person’s failing strength and Timothy warns of grievous times ahead.
1 Corinthians 15:43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.Weakness is the shared thread: the psalm laments its arrival, while Corinthians contrasts it with the power of resurrection.
Where this verse fits

Illness or diagnosis. aging. death and what comes after.

What the Bible says about death →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Bring one fear about failing strength to God

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Encouragement

The loss remains unresolved here. In the next verse, the speaker still addresses God while fearing death before his time; God’s years extend through all generations.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 102:23. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 102 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).