< 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 afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.
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.
Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me.
3 For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood.
For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.
4 I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread.
Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.
5 Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh.
From the voice of my sighing Hath my bone cleaved to my flesh.
6 I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house.
I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.
7 I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof.
I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.
8 All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me.
All the day mine enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.
9 For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink.
Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,
10 By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down.
From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down.
11 My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay.
My days as a shadow [are] stretched out, And I — as the herb I am withered.
12 But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation.
And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial to all generations.
13 You will rise up and take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come.
Thou — Thou risest — Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come.
14 For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land.
For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.
15 And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
And nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour,
16 For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory.
For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour,
17 He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition.
He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.
18 Let these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will praise the Lord.
This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah.
19 For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth.
For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively,
20 So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain.
To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,
21 So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem:
To declare in Zion the name of Jehovah, And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord.
In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms — to serve Jehovah.
23 He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days.
He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days.
24 Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation.
I say, 'My God, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations [are] Thine years.
25 In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands.
Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands [are] the heavens.
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 — They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed.
27 Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline.
And Thou [art] the same, and Thine years are not finished.
28 The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age.
The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!