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 before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.
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 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 My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!
For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.
4 I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
Smitten 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 Hath my bone 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 mine 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 ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,
10 because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.
From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down.
11 My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.
My days as a shadow [are] stretched out, And I — as the herb I am withered.
12 But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.
And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial 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.
Thou — Thou risest — Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come.
14 For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!
For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.
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 Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour,
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.
For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour,
17 He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath 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 do praise Jah.
19 The Lord looked down from above, from the heights of his holy place; he looked down from heaven to the earth,
For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively,
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 Jehovah, 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 Jehovah.
23 But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath 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, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations [are] Thine years.
25 Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.
Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands [are] the heavens.
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 — They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed.
27 But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.
And Thou [art] the same, and Thine years are not finished.
28 Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”
The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!
