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: for a weary and suffering person who pours out their grief to the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help 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 of my distress. Incline your 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 days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire.
4 My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered. I forget to eat any food.
My heart is scorched, withered like grass; I forget to eat my bread.
5 With my continual groaning, I have become very thin.
By reason of 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.
Like a desert-owl of the wilderness, like an owl among ruins am I.
7 I lie awake like a solitary bird, alone on the housetop.
I make my sleepless lament like a bird on the house-top alone.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long; those who mock me use my name in curses.
All the day wild foes revile me, using my name for a curse.
9 I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears.
For ashes have been my bread, and tears have been mixed with my cup.
10 Because of your raging anger, you have lifted me up to throw me down.
Because of your passionate anger, you did raise me, then hurl me to the ground.
11 My days are like a shadow that fades, and I have withered like grass.
My days come to an end, shadows lengthen, I wither like grass.
12 But you, Yahweh, live forever, and your fame is for all generations.
But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your fame 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 arise and have pity on Zion; it’s time to be gracious; her hour has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
For even her stones are dear to your servants, even the dust of her ruins they look on with love.
15 The nations will respect your name, Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.
Then the nations will revere the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth his glory,
16 Yahweh will rebuild Zion and will appear in his glory.
when the Lord shall have built up Zion, and revealed himself in his glory,
17 At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not reject their prayer.
in response to the prayer of the destitute, whose prayer he will not despise.
18 This will be written for future generations, and a people not yet born will praise Yahweh.
Let this be recorded for ages to come, that the Lord may be praised by a people yet unborn.
19 For he has looked down from the holy heights; from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,
For he shall look down from his holy height, from the heavens the Lord will gaze on the earth,
20 to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those who were condemned to death.
to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are doomed to die;
21 Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
that people may recount the Lord’s fame in Zion, and the praise of him in Jerusalem,
22 when the peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh.
when the nations are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to worship 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 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 will say, “My God, take me not hence in the midst of my days. “Your years endure age after age.
25 In ancient times you set the earth in place; the heavens are the work of your hands.
Of old you have 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 shall perish; but you do stand. They shall all wax old like a garment, and change as a robe you will change them.
27 But you are the same, and your years will have no end.
But you are the same, your years are endless.
28 The children of your servants will live on, and their descendants will live in your presence.”
The children of your servants abide, evermore shall their seed be before you.”
