Psalms 102
1 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!
A Prayer for the Poor; when he is deeply afflicted, and pours out his supplication before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to you.
2 Don't hide your face from me in my time of trouble! Turn and listen to me, and answer me quickly when I call.
Turn not away your face from me: in the day [when] I am afflicted, incline your ear to me: in the day [when] I shall call upon you, speedily hear me.
3 My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!
For my days have vanished like smoke, and my bones have been parched like a stick.
4 I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
I am blighted like grass, and my heart is dried up; for I have forgotten to eat my bread.
5 All my groaning has worn me out; my bones show through my skin.
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bone has cleaved to my flesh.
6 I'm like a desert owl, like a little owl among the ruins.
I have become like a pelican of the wilderness;
7 I can't sleep. I'm like a lonely bird on a rooftop.
I have become like an owl in a ruined house. I have watched, and am become as a sparrow dwelling alone on a roof.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long. They mock me and swear at me.
All the day long mine enemies have reproached me; and they that praised me have sworn against me.
9 Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,
For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, and mingled my drink with weeping;
10 because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.
because of your anger and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and dashed me down.
11 My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.
My days have declined like a shadow; and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.
But you, Lord, endure for ever, and your memorial to generation and generation.
13 You will take action and have pity on Jerusalem, for it's time to be kind to the city, the time has come.
You shall arise, and have mercy upon Sion: for [it is] time to have mercy upon her, for the set time is come.
14 For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!
For your servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they shall pity her dust.
15 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.
So the nations shall fear your name, O Lord, and all kings your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.
For the Lord shall build up Sion, and shall appear in his glory.
17 He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
He has had regard to the prayer of the lowly, and has not despised their petition.
18 Let this be recorded for generations to come, so that people yet to be born may praise the Lord:
Let this be written for another generation; and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord.
19 The Lord looked down from above, from the heights of his holy place; he looked down from heaven to the earth,
For he has looked out from the height of his sanctuary; the Lord looked upon the earth from heaven;
20 to respond to the groans of prisoners, to set free the children of death.
to hear the groaning of the fettered ones, to loosen the sons of the slain;
21 As a result the wonderful nature of the Lord will be celebrated with praise in Jerusalem,
to proclaim the name of the Lord in Sion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 when the people of many kingdoms gather together to worship the Lord.
when the people are gathered together, and the kings, to serve the Lord.
23 But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
He answered him in the way of his strength: tell me the fewness of my days.
24 I cried out, “My God, don't take my life while I'm young! You are the one who lives forever.
Take me not away in the midst of my days: your years [are] through all generations.
25 Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.
In the beginning you, O Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands.
26 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.
They shall perish, but you remain: and [they all] shall wax old as a garment; and as a vesture shall you fold them, and they shall be changed.
27 But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.
But you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
28 Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”
The children of your servants shall dwell [securely], and their seed shall prosper for ever.
