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.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to 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.
Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered. I forget to eat any food.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 With my continual groaning, I have become very thin.
By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones stick to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl in the ruins.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I lie awake like a solitary bird, alone on the housetop.
I watch, and am as a sparrow alone on the house top.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long; those who mock me use my name in curses.
My enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears.
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
10 Because of your raging anger, you have lifted me up to throw me down.
Because of your indignation and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that fades, and I have withered like grass.
My days are like a shadow that declines; and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, Yahweh, live forever, and your fame is for all generations.
But you, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and your remembrance 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 shall arise, and have mercy on Zion: for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, is come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.
15 The nations will respect your name, Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.
So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 Yahweh will rebuild Zion and will appear in his glory.
When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17 At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not reject their prayer.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18 This will be written for future generations, and a people not yet born will praise Yahweh.
This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
19 For he has looked down from the holy heights; from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20 to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those who were condemned to death.
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21 Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 when the peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh.
When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life. He has shortened my days.
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24 I said, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of life; you are here throughout all generations.
I said, O my God, take me not away in the middle of my days: your years are throughout all generations.
25 In ancient times you set the earth in place; the heavens are the work of your hands.
Of old have you laid the foundation 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 shall perish, but you shall endure: yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a clothing shall you change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
But you are the same, and your years shall have no end.
28 The children of your servants will live on, and their descendants will live in your presence.”
The children of your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before you.
