Psalms 102
1 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.
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!
2 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.
Don't hide your face from me in my time of trouble! Turn and listen to me, and answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days have been consumed in smoke, And my bones have burned as a firebrand.
My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!
4 Struck as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.
I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
5 From the voice of my sighing My bone has cleaved to my flesh.
All my groaning has worn me out; my bones show through my skin.
6 I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.
I'm like a desert owl, like a little owl among the ruins.
7 I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.
I can't sleep. I'm like a lonely bird on a rooftop.
8 All the day my enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.
My enemies taunt me all day long. They mock me and swear at me.
9 Because I have eaten ashes as bread, And have mingled my drink with weeping,
Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,
10 From Your indignation and Your wrath, For You have lifted me up, And cast me down.
because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.
11 My days [are] stretched out as a shadow, And I am withered as the herb.
My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.
12 And You, O YHWH, abide for all time, And Your memorial from generation to generation.
But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.
13 You rise—You pity Zion, For the time to favor her, For the appointed time has come.
You will take action and have pity on Jerusalem, for it's time to be kind to the city, the time has come.
14 For Your servants have been pleased with her stones, And they favor her dust.
For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!
15 And nations fear the Name of YHWH, And all kings of the earth Your glory,
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.
16 For YHWH has built Zion, He has been seen in His glory,
For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.
17 He turned to the prayer of the destitute, And He has not despised their prayer.
He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
18 This is written for a later generation, And the people created praise YAH.
Let this be recorded for generations to come, so that people yet to be born may praise the Lord:
19 For He has looked From the high place of His sanctuary. YHWH looked attentively from the heavens to earth,
The Lord looked down from above, from the heights of his holy place; he looked down from heaven to the earth,
20 To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,
to respond to the groans of prisoners, to set free the children of death.
21 To declare in Zion the Name of YHWH, And His praise in Jerusalem,
As a result the wonderful nature of the Lord will be celebrated with praise in Jerusalem,
22 In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms—to serve YHWH.
when the people of many kingdoms gather together to worship the Lord.
23 He has humbled my power in the way, He has shortened my days.
But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
24 I say, “My God, do not take me up in the midst of my days,” Your years [are] through all generations.
I cried out, “My God, don't take my life while I'm young! You are the one who lives forever.
25 You founded the earth before time, And the heavens [are] the work of Your hands.
Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.
26 They perish, and You remain, And all of them become old as a garment, You change them as clothing, And they are changed.
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.
27 And You [are] the same, and Your years are not finished.
But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.
28 The sons of Your servants continue, And their seed is established before You!
Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”
