Psalms 102
1 A Prayer for the Poor; when he is deeply afflicted, and pours out his supplication before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to thee.
[A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before YHWH.] Hear my prayer, YHWH. Let my cry come to you.
2 Turn not away thy face from me: in the day [when] I am afflicted, incline thine ear to me: in the day [when] I shall call upon thee, speedily hear me.
Do not 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.
3 For my days have vanished like smoke, and my bones have been parched like a stick.
For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned like a hearth.
4 I am blighted like grass, and my heart is dried up; for I have forgotten to eat my bread.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bone has cleaved to my flesh.
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
6 I have become like a pelican of the wilderness;
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7 I have become like an owl in a ruined house. I have watched, and am become as a sparrow dwelling alone on a roof.
I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8 All the day long mine enemies have reproached me; and they that praised me have sworn against me.
My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, and mingled my drink with weeping;
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
10 because of thine anger and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and dashed me down.
Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
11 My days have declined like a shadow; and I am withered like grass.
My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
12 But thou, Lord, endurest for ever, and thy memorial to generation and generation.
But you, YHWH, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion: for [it is] time to have mercy upon her, for the set time is come.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
14 For thy servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they shall pity her dust.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
15 So the nations shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all kings thy glory.
So the nations will fear the name of YHWH; all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For the Lord shall build up Sion, and shall appear in his glory.
For YHWH has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
17 He has had regard to the prayer of the lowly, and has not despised their petition.
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
18 Let this be written for another generation; and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord.
This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise JAH.
19 For he has looked out from the height of his sanctuary; the Lord looked upon the earth from heaven;
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, YHWH looked at the earth;
20 to hear the groaning of the fettered ones, to loosen the sons of the slain;
to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
21 to proclaim the name of the Lord in Sion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
that men may declare the name of YHWH in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 when the people are gathered together, and the kings, to serve the Lord.
when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve YHWH.
23 He answered him in the way of his strength: tell me the fewness of my days.
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24 Take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years [are] through all generations.
I said, "My God, do not take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
25 In the beginning thou, O Lord, didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.
In the beginning, YHWH, you established the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou remainest: and [they all] shall wax old as a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them, and they shall be changed.
They will perish, but you remain; and they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall dwell [securely], and their seed shall prosper for ever.
The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you."
