Psalms 102
1 A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.
A prayer from someone who is suffering and is tired out, pouring out their troubles to the Lord. Lord please hear my prayer, my cry for help!
2 Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
Don't hide your face from me in my time of trouble! Turn and listen to me, and answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!
4 My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
5 Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.
All my groaning has worn me out; my bones show through my skin.
6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
I'm like a desert owl, like a little owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
I can't sleep. I'm like a lonely bird on a rooftop.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.
My enemies taunt me all day long. They mock me and swear at me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,
10 because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.
11 My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.
My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.
12 But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.
But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor— the appointed time has come.
You will take action and have pity on Jerusalem, for it's time to be kind to the city, the time has come.
14 For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.
For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!
15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
Then the nations will be in awe of who you are, Lord; all the kings of the earth will be in awe of your glory.
16 For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.
17 He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
18 Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
Let this be recorded for generations to come, so that people yet to be born may praise the Lord:
19 For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
The Lord looked down from above, from the heights of his holy place; he looked down from heaven to the earth,
20 to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
to respond to the groans of prisoners, to set free the children of death.
21 that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,
As a result the wonderful nature of the Lord will be celebrated with praise in Jerusalem,
22 when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.
when the people of many kingdoms gather together to worship the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
24 I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.
I cried out, “My God, don't take my life while I'm young! You are the one who lives forever.
25 In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.
26 They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
They will come to an end, but you will not. They will all wear out, like clothes—you will change them, and throw them away.
27 But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.
28 The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”
Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”
