Psalms 102
1 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.
A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.
2 Do not hide your face from me in my time of trouble. Listen to me. When I call out to you, answer me quickly.
Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered. I forget to eat any food.
My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
5 With my continual groaning, I have become very thin.
Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl in the ruins.
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake like a solitary bird, alone on the housetop.
I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long; those who mock me use my name in curses.
All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.
9 I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears.
For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
10 Because of your raging anger, you have lifted me up to throw me down.
because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
11 My days are like a shadow that fades, and I have withered like grass.
My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.
12 But you, Yahweh, live forever, and your fame is for all generations.
But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.
13 You will rise up and have mercy on Zion. Now is the time to have mercy upon her; the appointed time has come.
You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor— the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.
15 The nations will respect your name, Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.
So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
16 Yahweh will rebuild Zion and will appear in his glory.
For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
17 At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not reject their prayer.
He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
18 This will be written for future generations, and a people not yet born will praise Yahweh.
Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
19 For he has looked down from the holy heights; from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,
For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
20 to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those who were condemned to death.
to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
21 Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,
22 when the peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh.
when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.
23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life. He has shortened my days.
He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
24 I said, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of life; you are here throughout all generations.
I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.
25 In ancient times you set the earth in place; the heavens are the work of your hands.
In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 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.
They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
27 But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
28 The children of your servants will live on, and their descendants will live in your presence.”
The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”
