Psalms 102
1 Yahweh, listen to what I am praying; hear me while I cry out to you!
A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah. Jehovah, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.
2 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!
Hide not thy face from me: in the day of my trouble, incline thine ear unto me; in the day I call, answer me speedily.
3 My life is ending, like smoke that disappears [SIM]; I have [a high fever which] burns my body like a fire burns [SIM].
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a firebrand.
4 [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.
My heart is smitten and withered like grass; yea, I have forgotten to eat my bread.
5 I groan loudly, and my bones can be seen under my skin [because I have become very thin].
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my flesh.
6 I am like a [lonely and despised] vulture in the desert, like an owl by itself in the abandoned ruins [of a building/city].
I am become like the pelican of the wilderness, I am as an owl in desolate places;
7 I lie awake [at night]; [because there is no one to comfort me], I am like a lonely bird [sitting] on a housetop [SIM].
I watch, and am like a sparrow alone upon the housetop.
8 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.
Mine enemies reproach me all the day; they that are mad against me swear by me.
9 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!
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
Because of thine indignation and thy wrath; for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 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].
My days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass.
12 But Yahweh, you are our king who rules [MTY] forever; people who are not yet born will remember you.
But thou, Jehovah, abidest for ever, and thy memorial from generation to generation.
13 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.
Thou wilt rise up, thou wilt have mercy upon Zion: for it is the time to be gracious to her, for the set time is come.
14 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.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour her dust.
15 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.
And the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 You will rebuild Jerusalem, and you will appear there with your glory/brightness.
When Jehovah shall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory.
17 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.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute one, and not despise their prayer.
18 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.
This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people that shall be created shall praise Jah:
19 They will know that you looked down from your holy/sacred place in heaven [DOU] and saw [what was happening on] the earth.
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from the heavens hath Jehovah beheld the earth,
20 They will know that you hear prisoners groaning and that you will set free those who have been told, “You will be executed.”
To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to die;
21 As a result, people in Jerusalem will praise you [DOU] for what you [have done]
That the name of Jehovah may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when many people [from other people-groups] and [those who are citizens of other] kingdoms gather to worship you.
When the peoples shall be gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.
23 [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).
He weakened my strength in the way, he shortened my days.
24 I say to you, “My God, do not cause me to die now, before I become old! You live forever!
I said, My God, take me not away in the midst of my days! ...Thy years are from generation to generation.
25 You created the world long ago, and you made (the heavens/everything in the sky) with your own hands.
Of old hast thou founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands:
26 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,
They shall perish, but thou continuest; and all of them shall grow old as a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
27 but you are [not like the things that you created], [because you are] always the same; you never die.
But thou art the Same, and thy years shall have no end.
28 [Some day] our children will live safely [in Jerusalem], and their descendants will be protected in your presence.”
The children of thy servants shall abide, and their seed shall be established before thee.
