Psalms 102
1 Yahweh, listen to what I am praying; hear me while I cry out to you!
[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.
2 Do not (turn away/hide yourself) from me when I (have troubles/am distressed)! Listen to me, and answer me quickly now, when I am calling out to you!
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 My life is ending, like smoke that disappears [SIM]; I have [a high fever which] burns my body like a fire burns [SIM].
For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned like a hearth.
4 [I feel like] I am drying up like grass [SIM] that has been beaten/trampled down, and I no longer have a desire to eat food.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
5 I groan loudly, and my bones can be seen under my skin [because I have become very thin].
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
6 I am like a [lonely and despised] vulture in the desert, like an owl by itself in the abandoned ruins [of a building/city].
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7 I lie awake [at night]; [because there is no one to comfort me], I am like a lonely bird [sitting] on a housetop [SIM].
I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8 All during the day my enemies insult me; those who make fun of me mention my name [and say, “May you be like him”] when they curse people.
My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9 Because you are very angry [DOU] with me, now [I sit in] ashes [while I am suffering greatly]; and those ashes [fall on] the bread/food that I eat, and what I drink has my tears mixed with it. [It is as though] you have picked me up and thrown me away!
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
11 My time to remain alive is like an evening shadow [that will soon be gone] [SIM]. I am withering like grass withers [in the hot sun].
My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
12 But Yahweh, you are our king who rules [MTY] forever; people who are not yet born will remember you.
But you, LORD, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.
13 You will arise and be merciful to [the people of] [MTY] Jerusalem; it is now time for you to do that; this is the time for you to be kind to them.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
14 Even though (the city has been destroyed/our enemies have destroyed our city), we who serve you still love the stones that [were formerly] in the city walls; because now there is rubble everywhere, we, your people, are very sad when we see it.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
15 Yahweh, [some day the people of other] nations will revere you [MTY]; all the kings on earth will see that you are very glorious/great.
So the nations will fear the name of the LORD; all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 You will rebuild Jerusalem, and you will appear there with your glory/brightness.
For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
17 You will listen to the prayers of your people who are homeless, and you will (not ignore them/do what they request) [LIT] when they plead with you to help them.
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
18 Yahweh, [I want to] write these words in order that people in future years [will know what] you have done, in order that people who are not born yet will praise you.
This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
19 They will know that you looked down from your holy/sacred place in heaven [DOU] and saw [what was happening on] the earth.
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD looked at the earth;
20 They will know that you hear prisoners groaning and that you will set free those who have been told, “You will be executed.”
to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
21 As a result, people in Jerusalem will praise you [DOU] for what you [have done]
that men may declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 when many people [from other people-groups] and [those who are citizens of other] kingdoms gather to worship you.
when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 [But now] you have caused me to become weak while I am still young; [I think that] I will (not live much longer/ very long/soon die).
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24 I say to you, “My God, do not cause me to die now, before I become old! You live forever!
I said, "My God, do not take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
25 You created the world long ago, and you made (the heavens/everything in the sky) with your own hands.
In the beginning, LORD, you established the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
26 The earth and the heavens/sky will disappear, but you will remain. They will wear out like clothes wear out. You will get rid of them like [people get rid of] old clothes, and they will no longer exist,
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 you are [not like the things that you created], [because you are] always the same; you never die.
But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
28 [Some day] our children will live safely [in Jerusalem], and their descendants will be protected in your presence.”
The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you."
