Psalms, 102

0.

0. A prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.

1. [Prayer of someone afflicted, who in misfortune pours out sorrows before Yahweh] Yahweh, hear my prayer, let my cry for help reach you.

1. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to thee!

2. Do not turn away your face from me when I am in trouble; bend down and listen to me, when I call, be quick to answer me!

2. Do not hide thy face from me in the day of my distress! Incline thy ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

3. For my days are vanishing like smoke, my bones burning like an oven;

3. For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.

4. like grass struck by blight, my heart is withering, I forget to eat my meals.

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

5. From the effort of voicing my groans my bones stick out through my skin.

5. Because of my loud groaning my bones cleave to my flesh.

6. I am like a desert-owl in the wastes, a screech-owl among ruins,

6. I am like a vulture of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;

7. I keep vigil and moan like a lone bird on a roof.

7. I lie awake, I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.

8. All day long my enemies taunt me, those who once praised me now use me as a curse.

8. All the day my enemies taunt me, those who deride me use my name for a curse.

9. Ashes are the food that I eat, my drink is mingled with tears,

9. For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink,

10. because of your fury and anger, since you have raised me up only to cast me away;

10. because of thy indignation and anger; for thou hast taken me up and thrown me away.

11. my days are like a fading shadow, I am withering up like grass.

11. My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

12. But you, Yahweh, are enthroned for ever, each generation in turn remembers you.

12. But thou, O LORD, art enthroned for ever; thy name endures to all generations.

13. Rise up, take pity on Zion! the time has come to have mercy on her, the moment has come;

13. Thou wilt arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.

14. for your servants love her very stones, are moved to pity by her dust.

14. For thy servants hold her stones dear, and have pity on her dust.

15. Then will the nations revere the name of Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth your glory;

15. The nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

16. when Yahweh builds Zion anew, he will be seen in his glory;

16. For the LORD will build up Zion, he will appear in his glory;

17. he will turn to hear the prayer of the destitute, and will not treat their prayer with scorn.

17. he will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their supplication.

18. This shall be put on record for a future generation, and a people yet to be born shall praise God:

18. Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD:

19. Yahweh has leaned down from the heights of his sanctuary, has looked down from heaven to earth,

19. that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,

20. to listen to the sighing of the captive, and set free those condemned to death,

20. to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die;

21. to proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion, his praise in Jerusalem;

21. that men may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,

22. nations will gather together, and kingdoms to worship Yahweh.

22. when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

23. In my journeying my strength has failed on the way;

23. He has broken my strength in mid-course; he has shortened my days.

24. let me know the short time I have left. Do not take me away before half my days are done, for your years run on from age to age.

24. "O my God," I say, "take me not hence in the midst of my days, thou whose years endure throughout all generations!"

25. Long ago you laid earth's foundations, the heavens are the work of your hands.

25. Of old thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26. They pass away but you remain; they all wear out like a garment, like outworn clothes you change them;

26. They will perish, but thou dost endure; they will all wear out like a garment. Thou changest them like raiment, and they pass away;

27. but you never alter, and your years never end.

27. but thou art the same, and thy years have no end.

28. The children of those who serve you will dwell secure, and their descendants live on in your presence.

28. The children of thy servants shall dwell secure; their posterity shall be established before thee.