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 fainteth, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. O LORD, 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 distress; incline Thine ear unto me; in the day when 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 hearth.
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 like grass, and withered; for I forget 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 sighing 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 like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste 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 become like a sparrow that is 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 taunt me all the day; they that are mad against me do curse 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 taken me up, and cast me away.
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 lengthening shadow; and 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, O LORD, sittest enthroned for ever; and Thy name is unto all generations.
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 arise, and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed 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 love 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.
So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory;
16 You will rebuild Jerusalem, and you will appear there with your glory/brightness.
When the LORD hath built up Zion, when He hath appeared 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.
When He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised 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 which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
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 heaven did the LORD behold 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 death;
21 As a result, people in Jerusalem will praise you [DOU] for what you [have done]
That men may tell of the name of the LORD 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 are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
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 say: 'O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days, Thou whose years endure throughout all generations.
25 You created the world long ago, and you made (the heavens/everything in the sky) with your own hands.
Of old Thou didst lay the foundation of 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 shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall pass away;
27 but you are [not like the things that you created], [because you are] always the same; you never die.
But Thou art the selfsame, 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 dwell securely, and their seed shall be established before Thee.'
