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.

Yahweh, listen to what I am praying; hear me while I cry out 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.

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!

3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burnt as a torch.

My life is ending, like smoke that disappears [SIM]; I have [a high fever which] burns my body like a fire burns [SIM].

4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.

[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.

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.

I groan loudly, and my bones can be seen under my skin [because I have become very thin].

6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.

I am like a [lonely and despised] vulture in the desert, like an owl by itself in the abandoned ruins [of a building/city].

7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.

I lie awake [at night]; [because there is no one to comfort me], I am like a lonely bird [sitting] on a housetop [SIM].

8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.

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.

9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,

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!

10 because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.

11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.

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].

12 But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.

But Yahweh, you are our king who rules [MTY] forever; people who are not yet born will remember you.

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 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.

14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.

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.

15 So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory.

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.

16 For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.

You will rebuild Jerusalem, and you will appear there with your glory/brightness.

17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.

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.

18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,

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.

19 for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,

They will know that you looked down from your holy/sacred place in heaven [DOU] and saw [what was happening on] the earth.

20 to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,

They will know that you hear prisoners groaning and that you will set free those who have been told, “You will be executed.”

21 that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

As a result, people in Jerusalem will praise you [DOU] for what you [have done]

22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

when many people [from other people-groups] and [those who are citizens of other] kingdoms gather to worship you.

23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.

[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).

24 I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.

I say to you, “My God, do not cause me to die now, before I become old! You live forever!

25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.

You created the world long ago, and you made (the heavens/everything in the sky) with your own 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.

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,

27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.

but you are [not like the things that you created], [because you are] always the same; you never die.

28 The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”

[Some day] our children will live safely [in Jerusalem], and their descendants will be protected in your presence.”