Psalms 102
1 The prayer of the pauper, when he was anxious, and so he poured out his petition in the sight of the Lord. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my outcry reach you.
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.
2 Do not turn your face away from me. In whatever day that I am in trouble, incline your ear to me. In whatever day that I will call upon you, heed me quickly.
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.
3 For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood.
My days are wasted like smoke, and my bones are burned up as in a fire.
4 I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread.
My heart is broken; it has become dry and dead like grass, so that I give no thought to food.
5 Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh.
Because of the voice of my sorrow, my flesh is wasted to the bone.
6 I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house.
I am like a bird living by itself in the waste places; like the night-bird in a waste of sand.
7 I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof.
I keep watch like a bird by itself on the house-top.
8 All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me.
My haters say evil of me all day; those who are violent against me make use of my name as a curse.
9 For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink.
I have had dust for bread and my drink has been mixed with weeping:
10 By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down.
Because of your passion and your wrath, for I have been lifted up and then made low by you.
11 My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay.
My days are like a shade which is stretched out; I am dry like the grass.
12 But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation.
But you, O Lord, are eternal; and your name will never come to an end.
13 You will rise up and take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come.
You will again get up and have mercy on Zion: for the time has come for her to be comforted.
14 For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, looking with love on her dust.
15 And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
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:
16 For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory.
When the Lord has put up the walls of Zion, and has been been in his glory;
17 He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition.
When he has given ear to the prayer of the poor, and has not put his request on one side.
18 Let these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will praise the Lord.
This will be put in writing for the coming generation, and the people of the future will give praise to the Lord.
19 For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth.
For from his holy place the Lord has seen, looking down on the earth from heaven;
20 So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain.
Hearing the cry of the prisoner, making free those for whom death is ordered;
21 So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem:
So that they may give out the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord.
When the peoples are come together, and the kingdoms, to give worship to the Lord.
23 He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days.
He has taken my strength from me in the way; he has made short my days.
24 Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation.
I will say, O my God, take me not away before my time; your years go on through all generations:
25 In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands.
In the past you put the earth on its base, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain. And all will grow old like a garment. And, like a blanket, you will change them, and they will be changed.
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:
27 Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline.
But you are the unchanging One, and your years will have no end.
28 The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age.
The children of your servants will have a safe resting-place, and their seed will be ever before you.
