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!
The prayer: for a weary and suffering person who pours out their grief to the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help 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.
Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me: when I call, answer me speedily.
3 My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!
For my days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire.
4 I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
My heart is scorched, withered like grass; I forget to eat my bread.
5 All my groaning has worn me out; my bones show through my skin.
By reason of my loud groaning, my flesh clings to my bones.
6 I'm like a desert owl, like a little owl among the ruins.
Like a desert-owl of the wilderness, like an owl among ruins am I.
7 I can't sleep. I'm like a lonely bird on a rooftop.
I make my sleepless lament like a bird on the house-top alone.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long. They mock me and swear at me.
All the day wild foes revile me, using my name for a curse.
9 Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,
For ashes have been my bread, and tears have been mixed with my cup.
10 because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.
Because of your passionate anger, you did raise me, then hurl me to the ground.
11 My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.
My days come to an end, shadows lengthen, I wither like grass.
12 But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.
But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your fame endures to all generations.
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 will arise and have pity on Zion; it’s time to be gracious; her hour has come.
14 For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!
For even her stones are dear to your servants, even the dust of her ruins they look on with love.
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.
Then the nations will revere the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth his glory,
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.
when the Lord shall have built up Zion, and revealed himself in his glory,
17 He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
in response to the prayer of the destitute, whose prayer he will not despise.
18 Let this be recorded for generations to come, so that people yet to be born may praise the Lord:
Let this be recorded for ages to come, that the Lord may be praised by a people yet unborn.
19 The Lord looked down from above, from the heights of his holy place; he looked down from heaven to the earth,
For he shall look down from his holy height, from the heavens the Lord will gaze on the earth,
20 to respond to the groans of prisoners, to set free the children of death.
to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are doomed to die;
21 As a result the wonderful nature of the Lord will be celebrated with praise in Jerusalem,
that people may recount the Lord’s fame in Zion, and the praise of him in Jerusalem,
22 when the people of many kingdoms gather together to worship the Lord.
when the nations are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
He has broken my strength on 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 will say, “My God, take me not hence in the midst of my days. “Your years endure age after age.
25 Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.
Of old you have founded the earth, 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 shall perish; but you do stand. They shall all wax old like a garment, and change as a robe you will change them.
27 But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.
But you are the same, your years are endless.
28 Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”
The children of your servants abide, evermore shall their seed be before you.”
