Psalms 102
1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, LORD! Let my cry come 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 Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
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 consume away like smoke. My bones are burnt as a torch.
For my days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire.
4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
My heart is scorched, withered like grass; I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
By reason of my loud groaning, my flesh clings to my bones.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
Like a desert-owl of the wilderness, like an owl among ruins am I.
7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
I make my sleepless lament like a bird on the house-top alone.
8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
All the day wild foes revile me, using my name for a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
For ashes have been my bread, and tears have been mixed with my cup.
10 because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
Because of your passionate anger, you did raise me, then hurl me to the ground.
11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
My days come to an end, shadows lengthen, I wither like grass.
12 But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.
But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your fame endures to all generations.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set 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 take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
For even her stones are dear to your servants, even the dust of her ruins they look on with love.
15 So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory.
Then the nations will revere the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth his glory,
16 For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
when the Lord shall have built up Zion, and revealed himself in his glory,
17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
in response to the prayer of the destitute, whose prayer he will not despise.
18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,
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 height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw 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 groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,
to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are doomed to die;
21 that men may declare the LORD’s name 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 are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
when the nations are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
He has broken my strength on the way, he has shortened my days.
24 I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are 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 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. 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 endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
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. Your years will have no end.
But you are the same, your years are endless.
28 The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”
The children of your servants abide, evermore shall their seed be before you.’
