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 the afflicted, when in deep distress he poureth out his complaint before the Lord.” Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry come unto thee!
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 thy face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline thine ear to me when I call! Answer me speedily!
3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
For my life is consumed like smoke, And my bones burn like a brand.
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; Yea, I forget to eat my bread.
5 With my continual groaning, I have become very thin.
By reason of my sighing, my bones cleave to my skin;
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl in the ruins.
I am like the pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl amid ruins.
7 I lie awake like a solitary bird, alone on the housetop.
I am sleepless; I am like a solitary bird upon the house-top.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long; those who mock me use my name in curses.
All the day long my enemies reproach me; They who rage against me curse by me.
9 I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears.
For I eat ashes like bread, And mingle my drink with tears.
10 Because of your raging anger, you have lifted me up to throw me down.
On account of thine indignation and thy wrath; For thou hast lifted me up and cast me down!
11 My days are like a shadow that fades, and I have withered like grass.
My life is like a declining shadow, And I wither like grass.
12 But you, Yahweh, live forever, and your fame is for all generations.
But thou, O LORD! endurest for ever, And thy name 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.
Thou wilt arise and have pity upon Zion, For the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones; Yea, they have a regard for her dust.
15 The nations will respect your name, Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.
Then shall the nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 Yahweh will rebuild Zion and will appear in his glory.
For Jehovah will build up Zion; He will 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 supplication.
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, That the people to be born may praise Jehovah.
19 For he has looked down from the holy heights; from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,
For he looketh down from his holy height, From heaven doth he cast his eye upon the earth,
20 to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those who were condemned to death.
To listen to the sighs of the prisoner. To release those that are doomed to death;
21 Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
That they may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when the peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh.
When the nations are assembled together, And the kingdoms to serve Jehovah.
23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life. He has shortened my days.
He hath weakened my strength on the way, He hath 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 say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days! Thy years endure through all generations.
25 In ancient times you set the earth in place; the heavens are the work of your hands.
Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth, And the heavens are the work of thy 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 thou shalt endure; Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, And they shall be changed;
27 But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
But thou art the same, And thy years have no end.
28 The children of your servants will live on, and their descendants will live in your presence.”
The children of thy servants shall dwell securely, And their posterity shall be established before thee.
