Psalms 102
1 The prayer of the poor man, when he was anxious, and poured out his supplication before the Lord. Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to thee.
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out his lament before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, Yahweh; hear my cry to you.
2 Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, incline thy ear to me. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily.
Do not hide your face from me in my time of trouble. Listen to me. When I call out to you, answer me quickly.
3 For my days are vanished like smoke: and my bones are grown dry like fuel for the fire.
For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
4 I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I forgot to eat my bread.
My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered. I forget to eat any food.
5 Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my flesh.
With my continual groaning, I have become very thin.
6 I am become like to a pelican of the wilderness: I am like a night raven in the house.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl in the ruins.
7 I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the housetop.
I lie awake like a solitary bird, alone on the housetop.
8 All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised me did swear against me.
My enemies taunt me all day long; those who mock me use my name in curses.
9 For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears.
10 Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up thou hast thrown me down.
Because of your raging anger, you have lifted me up to throw me down.
11 My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass.
My days are like a shadow that fades, and I have withered like grass.
12 But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all generations.
But you, Yahweh, live forever, and your fame is for all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come.
You will rise up and have mercy on Zion. Now is the time to have mercy upon her; the appointed time has come.
14 For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.
For your servants hold her stones dear and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
15 And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
The nations will respect your name, Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.
16 For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory.
Yahweh will rebuild Zion and will appear in his glory.
17 He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition.
At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not reject their prayer.
18 Let these things be written unto another generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord:
This will be written for future generations, and a people not yet born will praise Yahweh.
19 Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.
For he has looked down from the holy heights; from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,
20 That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might release the children of the slain:
to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those who were condemned to death.
21 That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem;
Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the Lord.
when the peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh.
23 He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of my days.
He has taken away my strength in the middle of life. He has shortened my days.
24 Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation.
I said, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of life; you are here throughout all generations.
25 In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.
In ancient times you set the earth in place; the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They shall perish but thou remainest: and all of them shall grow old like a garment: And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed.
They will perish, but you will remain; they will all grow old like a garment; like clothing, you will remove them, and they will disappear.
27 But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.
But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall be directed for ever.
The children of your servants will live on, and their descendants will live in your presence.”
