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.
The prayer of the pauper, when he was anxious, and so he poured out his petition in the sight of the Lord. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my outcry reach 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 turn your face away from me. In whatever day that I am in trouble, incline your ear to me. In whatever day that I will call upon you, heed me quickly.
3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood.
4 My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered. I forget to eat any food.
I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread.
5 With my continual groaning, I have become very thin.
Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl in the ruins.
I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house.
7 I lie awake like a solitary bird, alone on the housetop.
I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long; those who mock me use my name in curses.
All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me.
9 I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears.
For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink.
10 Because of your raging anger, you have lifted me up to throw me down.
By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that fades, and I have withered like grass.
My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay.
12 But you, Yahweh, live forever, and your fame is for all generations.
But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation.
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 take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land.
15 The nations will respect your name, Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.
And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 Yahweh will rebuild Zion and will appear in his glory.
For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory.
17 At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not reject their prayer.
He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition.
18 This will be written for future generations, and a people not yet born will praise Yahweh.
Let these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will praise the Lord.
19 For he has looked down from the holy heights; from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,
For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth.
20 to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those who were condemned to death.
So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain.
21 Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem:
22 when the peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh.
while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord.
23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life. He has shortened my days.
He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days.
24 I said, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of life; you are here throughout all generations.
Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation.
25 In ancient times you set the earth in place; the heavens are the work of your hands.
In the beginning, O Lord, you founded 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. And all will grow old like a garment. And, like a blanket, you will change them, and they will be changed.
27 But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline.
28 The children of your servants will live on, and their descendants will live in your presence.”
The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age.
