< 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 of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out his lament before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, Yahweh; hear my cry to you.
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.
Do not hide your face from me in my time of trouble. Listen to me. When I call out to you, answer me quickly.
3 For my days have been consumed in smoke, And my bones have burned as a firebrand.
For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
4 Struck as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.
My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered. I forget to eat any food.
5 From the voice of my sighing My bone has cleaved to my flesh.
With my continual groaning, I have become very thin.
6 I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl in the ruins.
7 I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.
I lie awake like a solitary bird, alone on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.
My enemies taunt me all day long; those who mock me use my name in curses.
9 Because I have eaten ashes as bread, And have mingled my drink with weeping,
I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears.
10 From Your indignation and Your wrath, For You have lifted me up, And cast me down.
Because of your raging anger, you have lifted me up to throw me down.
11 My days [are] stretched out as a shadow, And I am withered as the herb.
My days are like a shadow that fades, and I have withered like grass.
12 And You, O YHWH, abide for all time, And Your memorial from generation to generation.
But you, Yahweh, live forever, and your fame is for all generations.
13 You rise—You pity Zion, For the time to favor her, For the appointed time has come.
You will rise up and have mercy on Zion. Now is the time to have mercy upon her; the appointed time has come.
14 For Your servants have been pleased with her stones, And they favor her dust.
For your servants hold her stones dear and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
15 And nations fear the Name of YHWH, And all kings of the earth Your glory,
The nations will respect your name, Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.
16 For YHWH has built Zion, He has been seen in His glory,
Yahweh will rebuild Zion and will appear in his glory.
17 He turned to the prayer of the destitute, And He has not despised their prayer.
At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not reject their prayer.
18 This is written for a later generation, And the people created praise YAH.
This will be written for future generations, and a people not yet born will praise Yahweh.
19 For He has looked From the high place of His sanctuary. YHWH looked attentively from the heavens to earth,
For he has looked down from the holy heights; from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,
20 To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,
to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those who were condemned to death.
21 To declare in Zion the Name of YHWH, And His praise in Jerusalem,
Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms—to serve YHWH.
when the peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh.
23 He has humbled my power in the way, He has shortened my days.
He has taken away my strength in the middle of life. He has shortened my days.
24 I say, “My God, do not take me up in the midst of my days,” Your years [are] through all generations.
I said, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of life; you are here throughout all generations.
25 You founded the earth before time, And the heavens [are] the work of Your hands.
In ancient times you set the earth in place; the heavens are the work of your hands.
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 perish, but you will remain; they will all grow old like a garment; like clothing, you will remove them, and they will disappear.
27 And You [are] the same, and Your years are not finished.
But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
28 The sons of Your servants continue, And their seed is established before You!
The children of your servants will live on, and their descendants will live in your presence.”