Psalms 102

1 A prayer of the afflicted, when he shall be in distresse, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord. O Lord, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee.

A prayer from someone who is suffering and is tired out, pouring out their troubles to the Lord. Lord please hear my prayer, my cry for help!

2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine eares vnto me: when I call, make haste to heare me.

Don't hide your face from me in my time of trouble! Turn and listen to me, and answer me quickly when I call.

3 For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an herthe.

My life is disappearing like smoke; my body feels like it's on fire!

4 Mine heart is smitten and withereth like grasse, because I forgate to eate my bread.

I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!

5 For the voyce of my groning my bones doe cleaue to my skinne.

All my groaning has worn me out; my bones show through my skin.

6 I am like a pelicane of the wildernesse: I am like an owle of the deserts.

I'm like a desert owl, like a little owl among the ruins.

7 I watch and am as a sparrowe alone vpon the house top.

I can't sleep. I'm like a lonely bird on a rooftop.

8 Mine enemies reuile me dayly, and they that rage against me, haue sworne against me.

My enemies taunt me all day long. They mock me and swear at me.

9 Surely I haue eaten asshes as bread, and mingled my drinke with weeping,

Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,

10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast heaued me vp, and cast me downe.

because of your anger and hostility, for you have picked me up and tossed me away.

11 My dayes are like a shadowe that fadeth, and I am withered like grasse.

My life is fading away like a shadow that lengthens—I'm withering away like grass.

12 But thou, O Lord, doest remaine for euer, and thy remembrance from generation to generation.

But you, Lord, reign forever, your fame will last for all generations.

13 Thou wilt arise and haue mercy vpon Zion: for the time to haue mercie thereon, for the appointed time is come.

You will take action and have pity on Jerusalem, for it's time to be kind to the city, the time has come.

14 For thy seruants delite in the stones thereof, and haue pitie on the dust thereof.

For the people who follow you love its stones; they value even its dust!

15 Then the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the earth thy glory,

Then the nations will be in awe of who you are, Lord; all the kings of the earth will be in awe of your glory.

16 When the Lord shall build vp Zion, and shall appeare in his glory,

For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; he will appear in glory.

17 And shall turne vnto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer.

He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people, which shalbe created, shall prayse the Lord.

Let this be recorded for generations to come, so that people yet to be born may praise the Lord:

19 For he hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: out of the heauen did the Lord beholde the earth,

The Lord looked down from above, from the heights of his holy place; he looked down from heaven to the earth,

20 That he might heare the mourning of the prisoner, and deliuer the children of death:

to respond to the groans of prisoners, to set free the children of death.

21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and his prayse in Ierusalem,

As a result the wonderful nature of the Lord will be celebrated with praise in Jerusalem,

22 When the people shalbe gathered together, and the kingdomes to serue the Lord.

when the people of many kingdoms gather together to worship the Lord.

23 He abated my strength in the way, and shortened my dayes.

But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.

24 And I sayd, O my God, take me not away in the middes of my dayes: thy yeeres endure from generation to generation.

I cried out, “My God, don't take my life while I'm young! You are the one who lives forever.

25 Thou hast aforetime layde the foundation of the earth, and the heauens are the worke of thine hands.

Long ago you created the earth; you made the heavens.

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: euen they all shall waxe olde as doeth a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.

They will come to an end, but you will not. They will all wear out, like clothes—you will change them, and throw them away.

27 But thou art the same, and thy yeeres shall not fayle.

But you are the one who always is; your years never come to an end.

28 The children of thy seruants shall continue, and their seede shall stand fast in thy sight.

Our children will live with you, and our children's children will grow in your presence.”