Psalms 102
1 “A prayer of the afflicted, when in deep distress he poureth out his complaint before the Lord.” Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry come unto thee!
[A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before Jehovah.] Hear my prayer, Jehovah. Let my cry come to you.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline thine ear to me when I call! Answer me speedily!
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
3 For my life is consumed like smoke, And my bones burn like a brand.
For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned like a hearth.
4 My heart is smitten and withered like grass; Yea, I forget to eat my bread.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of my sighing, my bones cleave to my skin;
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
6 I am like the pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl amid ruins.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7 I am sleepless; I am like a solitary bird upon the house-top.
I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8 All the day long my enemies reproach me; They who rage against me curse by me.
My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread, And mingle my drink with tears.
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
10 On account of thine indignation and thy wrath; For thou hast lifted me up and cast me down!
Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
11 My life is like a declining shadow, And I wither like grass.
My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
12 But thou, O LORD! endurest for ever, And thy name from generation to generation!
But you, Jehovah, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.
13 Thou wilt arise and have pity upon Zion, For the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones; Yea, they have a regard for her dust.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
15 Then shall the nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.
So the nations will fear the name of Jehovah; all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For Jehovah will build up Zion; He will appear in his glory.
For Jehovah has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, And not despise their supplication.
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come, That the people to be born may praise Jehovah.
This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise JAH.
19 For he looketh down from his holy height, From heaven doth he cast his eye upon the earth,
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Jehovah looked at the earth;
20 To listen to the sighs of the prisoner. To release those that are doomed to death;
to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
21 That they may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem,
that men may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the nations are assembled together, And the kingdoms to serve Jehovah.
when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.
23 He hath weakened my strength on the way, He hath shortened my days.
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24 I say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days! Thy years endure through all generations.
I said, "My God, do not take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth, And the heavens are the work of thy hands;
In the beginning, Jehovah, you established the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, And they shall be changed;
They will perish, but you remain; and they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
27 But thou art the same, And thy years have no end.
But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall dwell securely, And their posterity shall be established before thee.
The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you."
