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 OF THE AFFLICTED WHEN HE IS FEEBLE, AND POURS OUT HIS COMPLAINT BEFORE YHWH. O YHWH, hear my prayer, indeed, my cry comes 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.
Do not hide Your face from me, In a day of my adversity, Incline Your ear to me, In the day I call, hurry, answer me.
3 My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!
For my days have been consumed in smoke, And my bones have burned as a firebrand.
4 I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
Struck as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.
5 All my groaning has worn me out; my bones show through my skin.
From the voice of my sighing My bone has cleaved to my flesh.
6 I'm like a desert owl, like a little owl among the ruins.
I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.
7 I can't sleep. I'm like a lonely bird on a rooftop.
I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long. They mock me and swear at me.
All the day my enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.
9 Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,
Because I have eaten ashes as bread, And have mingled my drink with weeping,
10 because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.
From Your indignation and Your wrath, For You have lifted me up, And cast me down.
11 My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.
My days [are] stretched out as a shadow, And I am withered as the herb.
12 But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.
And You, O YHWH, abide for all time, And Your memorial from generation to 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 rise—You pity Zion, For the time to favor her, For the appointed time has come.
14 For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!
For Your servants have been pleased with her stones, And they favor 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.
And nations fear the Name of YHWH, And all kings of the earth Your glory,
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.
For YHWH has built Zion, He has been seen in His glory,
17 He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
He turned to the prayer of the destitute, And He has not despised their prayer.
18 Let this be recorded for generations to come, so that people yet to be born may praise the Lord:
This is written for a later generation, And the people created praise YAH.
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 From the high place of His sanctuary. YHWH looked attentively from the heavens to earth,
20 to respond to the groans of prisoners, to set free the children of death.
To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,
21 As a result the wonderful nature of the Lord will be celebrated with praise in Jerusalem,
To declare in Zion the Name of YHWH, And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 when the people of many kingdoms gather together to worship the Lord.
In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms—to serve YHWH.
23 But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
He has humbled my power in the way, He has shortened my days.
24 I cried out, “My God, don't take my life while I'm young! You are the one who lives forever.
I say, “My God, do not take me up in the midst of my days,” Your years [are] through all generations.
25 Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.
You founded the earth before time, And the heavens [are] the work 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 perish, and You remain, And all of them become old as a garment, You change them as clothing, And they are changed.
27 But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.
And You [are] the same, and Your years are not finished.
28 Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”
The sons of Your servants continue, And their seed is established before You!
