Psalms 102

1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah. Jehovah, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.

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 Hide not thy face from me: in the day of my trouble, incline thine ear unto me; in the day I call, answer me speedily.

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 are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a firebrand.

For my days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire.

4 My heart is smitten and withered like grass; yea, I have forgotten 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 cleave to my flesh.

By reason of my loud groaning, my flesh clings to my bones.

6 I am become like the pelican of the wilderness, I am as an owl in desolate places;

Like a desert-owl of the wilderness, like an owl among ruins am I.

7 I watch, and am like a sparrow alone upon the housetop.

I make my sleepless lament like a bird on the house-top alone.

8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; they that are mad against me swear by me.

All the day wild foes revile me, using my name for a curse.

9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

For ashes have been my bread, and tears have been mixed with my cup.

10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath; for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

Because of your passionate anger, you did raise me, then hurl me to the ground.

11 My days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass.

My days come to an end, shadows lengthen, I wither like grass.

12 But thou, Jehovah, abidest for ever, and thy memorial from generation to generation.

But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your fame endures to all generations.

13 Thou wilt rise up, thou wilt have mercy upon Zion: for it is the time to be gracious to her, for the set time is come.

You will arise and have pity on Zion; it’s time to be gracious; her hour has come.

14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour her dust.

For even her stones are dear to your servants, even the dust of her ruins they look on with love.

15 And the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

Then the nations will revere the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth his glory,

16 When Jehovah shall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory.

when the Lord shall have built up Zion, and revealed himself in his glory,

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute one, and not despise their prayer.

in response to the prayer of the destitute, whose prayer he will not despise.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people that shall be created shall praise Jah:

Let this be recorded for ages to come, that the Lord may be praised by a people yet unborn.

19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from the heavens hath Jehovah beheld 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 prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to die;

to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are doomed to die;

21 That the name of Jehovah may be declared 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 shall be gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.

when the nations are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

23 He weakened my strength in the way, he shortened my days.

He has broken my strength on the way, he has shortened my days.

24 I said, My God, take me not away in the midst of my days! ...Thy years are from generation to generation.

I will say, “My God, take me not hence in the midst of my days. “Your years endure age after age.

25 Of old hast thou founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands:

Of old you have founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They shall perish, but thou continuest; and all of them shall grow old as a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall 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 thou art the Same, and thy years shall have no end.

But you are the same, your years are endless.

28 The children of thy servants shall abide, and their seed shall be established before thee.

The children of your servants abide, evermore shall their seed be before you.”