Psalms 102
1 A Prayer of the man who is in trouble, when he is overcome, and puts his grief before the Lord. Give ear to my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to 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 Let not your face be veiled from me in the day of my trouble; give ear to me, and let my cry be answered quickly.
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 My days are wasted like smoke, and my bones are burned up as in a fire.
My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!
4 My heart is broken; it has become dry and dead like grass, so that I give no thought to food.
I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
5 Because of the voice of my sorrow, my flesh is wasted to the bone.
All my groaning has worn me out; my bones show through my skin.
6 I am like a bird living by itself in the waste places; like the night-bird in a waste of sand.
I'm like a desert owl, like a little owl among the ruins.
7 I keep watch like a bird by itself on the house-top.
I can't sleep. I'm like a lonely bird on a rooftop.
8 My haters say evil of me all day; those who are violent against me make use of my name as a curse.
My enemies taunt me all day long. They mock me and swear at me.
9 I have had dust for bread and my drink has been mixed with weeping:
Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,
10 Because of your passion and your wrath, for I have been lifted up and then made low by you.
because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.
11 My days are like a shade which is stretched out; I am dry like the grass.
My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, are eternal; and your name will never come to an end.
But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.
13 You will again get up and have mercy on Zion: for the time has come for her to be comforted.
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 take pleasure in her stones, looking with love on her dust.
For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!
15 So the nations will give honour to the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will be in fear of his 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 When the Lord has put up the walls of Zion, and has been been in his glory;
For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.
17 When he has given ear to the prayer of the poor, and has not put his request on one side.
He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
18 This will be put in writing for the coming generation, and the people of the future will give praise to the Lord.
Let this be recorded for generations to come, so that people yet to be born may praise the Lord:
19 For from his holy place the Lord has seen, looking down on the earth from heaven;
The Lord looked down from above, from the heights of his holy place; he looked down from heaven to the earth,
20 Hearing the cry of the prisoner, making free those for whom death is ordered;
to respond to the groans of prisoners, to set free the children of death.
21 So that they may give out the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
As a result the wonderful nature of the Lord will be celebrated with praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are come together, and the kingdoms, to give worship to the Lord.
when the people of many kingdoms gather together to worship the Lord.
23 He has taken my strength from me in the way; he has made short my days.
But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
24 I will say, O my God, take me not away before my time; 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 past you put the earth on its base, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.
26 They will come to an end, but you will still go on; they all will become old like a coat, and like a robe they will be changed:
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 are the unchanging One, and your years will have no end.
But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.
28 The children of your servants will have a safe resting-place, and their seed will be ever before you.
Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”
