Psalms 102
1 “A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out before the Lord his complaint.” O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.
Yahweh, listen to what I am praying; hear me while I cry out to you!
2 Hide not thy face from me on the day when I am distressed; incline unto me thy ear; on the day when I call, answer me speedily.
Do not (turn away/hide yourself) from me when I (have troubles/am distressed)! Listen to me, and answer me quickly now, when I am calling out to you!
3 For my days vanish in smoke, and my bones are burning like a hearth.
My life is ending, like smoke that disappears [SIM]; I have [a high fever which] burns my body like a fire burns [SIM].
4 Struck [by heat] like the herb and dried up is my heart; for I forget to eat my bread.
[I feel like] I am drying up like grass [SIM] that has been beaten/trampled down, and I no longer have a desire to eat food.
5 Because of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my flesh.
I groan loudly, and my bones can be seen under my skin [because I have become very thin].
6 I am like the pelican of the wilderness: I am become like the owl amid ruins.
I am like a [lonely and despised] vulture in the desert, like an owl by itself in the abandoned ruins [of a building/city].
7 I watch, and I am become like a [night-]bird sitting alone upon the housetop.
I lie awake [at night]; [because there is no one to comfort me], I am like a lonely bird [sitting] on a housetop [SIM].
8 All the day my enemies reproach me: they that mock me swear by me.
All during the day my enemies insult me; those who make fun of me mention my name [and say, “May you be like him”] when they curse people.
9 For ashes do I eat like bread, and my drink I mingle with weeping;
Because you are very angry [DOU] with me, now [I sit in] ashes [while I am suffering greatly]; and those ashes [fall on] the bread/food that I eat, and what I drink has my tears mixed with it. [It is as though] you have picked me up and thrown me away!
10 Because of thy indignation and thy wrath; for thou hadst lifted me up, and hast cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and like the herb I wither.
My time to remain alive is like an evening shadow [that will soon be gone] [SIM]. I am withering like grass withers [in the hot sun].
12 But thou, O Lord, wilt sit enthroned for ever; and thy memorial is unto all generations.
But Yahweh, you are our king who rules [MTY] forever; people who are not yet born will remember you.
13 Thou wilt indeed arise; thou wilt have mercy upon Zion; for it is time to favor her, for the appointed time is coming.
You will arise and be merciful to [the people of] [MTY] Jerusalem; it is now time for you to do that; this is the time for you to be kind to them.
14 For thy servants hold dear her stones, and her very dust they cherish.
Even though (the city has been destroyed/our enemies have destroyed our city), we who serve you still love the stones that [were formerly] in the city walls; because now there is rubble everywhere, we, your people, are very sad when we see it.
15 Then shall nations fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory:
Yahweh, [some day the people of other] nations will revere you [MTY]; all the kings on earth will see that you are very glorious/great.
16 When the Lord shalt have built up Zion, he appeareth in his glory;
You will rebuild Jerusalem, and you will appear there with your glory/brightness.
17 [When] he hath regarded the prayer of the forsaken, and doth not despise their prayer.
You will listen to the prayers of your people who are homeless, and you will (not ignore them/do what they request) [LIT] when they plead with you to help them.
18 This shall be written down for the latest generation; and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.
Yahweh, [I want to] write these words in order that people in future years [will know what] you have done, in order that people who are not born yet will praise you.
19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; the Lord hath cast from heaven his view to the earth:
They will know that you looked down from your holy/sacred place in heaven [DOU] and saw [what was happening on] the earth.
20 To hear the sighing of the prisoner; to loosen those that are doomed to death:
They will know that you hear prisoners groaning and that you will set free those who have been told, “You will be executed.”
21 That men may proclaim in Zion the name of the Lord, and his praise in Jerusalem;
As a result, people in Jerusalem will praise you [DOU] for what you [have done]
22 When people are gathered together, and kingdoms, to serve the Lord.—
when many people [from other people-groups] and [those who are citizens of other] kingdoms gather to worship you.
23 He hath weakened on the way my strength; he hath shortened my days.
[But now] you have caused me to become weak while I am still young; [I think that] I will (not live much longer/ very long/soon die).
24 I will say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days: throughout all generations are thy years.
I say to you, “My God, do not cause me to die now, before I become old! You live forever!
25 In olden times didst thou lay the foundations of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
You created the world long ago, and you made (the heavens/everything in the sky) with your own hands.
26 These will indeed perish, but thou wilt ever exist: yea, all of them will wear out like a garment; as a vesture wilt thou change them, and they will be changed;
The earth and the heavens/sky will disappear, but you will remain. They will wear out like clothes wear out. You will get rid of them like [people get rid of] old clothes, and they will no longer exist,
27 But thou art ever the same, and thy years will have no end.
but you are [not like the things that you created], [because you are] always the same; you never die.
28 The children of thy servants will dwell [securely], and their seed will be firmly established before thee.
[Some day] our children will live safely [in Jerusalem], and their descendants will be protected in your presence.”
