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.
Yahweh, listen to what I am praying; hear me while I cry out 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.
Do not (turn away/hide yourself) from me when I (have troubles/am distressed)! Listen to me, and answer me quickly now, when I am calling out to you!
3 For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood.
My life is ending, like smoke that disappears [SIM]; I have [a high fever which] burns my body like a fire burns [SIM].
4 I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread.
[I feel like] I am drying up like grass [SIM] that has been beaten/trampled down, and I no longer have a desire to eat food.
5 Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh.
I groan loudly, and my bones can be seen under my skin [because I have become very thin].
6 I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house.
I am like a [lonely and despised] vulture in the desert, like an owl by itself in the abandoned ruins [of a building/city].
7 I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof.
I lie awake [at night]; [because there is no one to comfort me], I am like a lonely bird [sitting] on a housetop [SIM].
8 All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me.
All during the day my enemies insult me; those who make fun of me mention my name [and say, “May you be like him”] when they curse people.
9 For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink.
Because you are very angry [DOU] with me, now [I sit in] ashes [while I am suffering greatly]; and those ashes [fall on] the bread/food that I eat, and what I drink has my tears mixed with it. [It is as though] you have picked me up and thrown me away!
10 By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down.
11 My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay.
My time to remain alive is like an evening shadow [that will soon be gone] [SIM]. I am withering like grass withers [in the hot sun].
12 But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation.
But Yahweh, you are our king who rules [MTY] forever; people who are not yet born will remember you.
13 You will rise up and take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come.
You will arise and be merciful to [the people of] [MTY] Jerusalem; it is now time for you to do that; this is the time for you to be kind to them.
14 For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land.
Even though (the city has been destroyed/our enemies have destroyed our city), we who serve you still love the stones that [were formerly] in the city walls; because now there is rubble everywhere, we, your people, are very sad when we see it.
15 And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
Yahweh, [some day the people of other] nations will revere you [MTY]; all the kings on earth will see that you are very glorious/great.
16 For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory.
You will rebuild Jerusalem, and you will appear there with your glory/brightness.
17 He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition.
You will listen to the prayers of your people who are homeless, and you will (not ignore them/do what they request) [LIT] when they plead with you to help them.
18 Let these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will praise the Lord.
Yahweh, [I want to] write these words in order that people in future years [will know what] you have done, in order that people who are not born yet will praise you.
19 For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth.
They will know that you looked down from your holy/sacred place in heaven [DOU] and saw [what was happening on] the earth.
20 So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain.
They will know that you hear prisoners groaning and that you will set free those who have been told, “You will be executed.”
21 So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem:
As a result, people in Jerusalem will praise you [DOU] for what you [have done]
22 while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord.
when many people [from other people-groups] and [those who are citizens of other] kingdoms gather to worship you.
23 He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days.
[But now] you have caused me to become weak while I am still young; [I think that] I will (not live much longer/ very long/soon die).
24 Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation.
I say to you, “My God, do not cause me to die now, before I become old! You live forever!
25 In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands.
You created the world long ago, and you made (the heavens/everything in the sky) with your own 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.
The earth and the heavens/sky will disappear, but you will remain. They will wear out like clothes wear out. You will get rid of them like [people get rid of] old clothes, and they will no longer exist,
27 Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline.
but you are [not like the things that you created], [because you are] always the same; you never die.
28 The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age.
[Some day] our children will live safely [in Jerusalem], and their descendants will be protected in your presence.”
