1 Hear my prayer, Yahweh!
Let my cry come 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.
3 For my days consume away like smoke.
My bones are burned as a torch.
4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered,
for I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning,
my bones stick to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness.
I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8 My enemies reproach me all day.
Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,
and mixed my drink with tears,
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.
12 But you, Yahweh, will remain forever;
your renown endures to all generations.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to have pity on her.
Yes, the set time has come.
14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones,
and have pity on her dust.
15 So the nations will fear Yahweh’s name,
all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For Yahweh has built up Zion.
He has appeared in his glory.
17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute,
and has not despised their prayer.
18 This will be written for the generation to come.
A people which will be created will praise Yah,
19 for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary.
From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoner,
to free those who are condemned to death,
21 that men may declare Yahweh’s name in Zion,
and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when the peoples are gathered together,
the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
23 He weakened my strength along the course.
He shortened my days.
24 I said, "My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days.
Your years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the work of your 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.
27 But you are the same.
Your years will have no end.
28 The children of your servants will continue.
Their offspring will be established before you."
1 'n Gebed van 'n ellendige as hy beswyk en sy klagte uitstort voor die aangesig van die HERE.
2 o HERE, hoor my gebed, en laat my hulpgeroep tot by U kom!
3 Verberg u aangesig nie vir my op die dag as ek in benoudheid is nie; neig u oor tot my; op die dag as ek roep, verhoor my gou!
4 Want my dae verdwyn soos rook en my gebeente gloei soos 'n vuurherd.
5 Platgeslaan soos die plante en verdor is my hart; want ek vergeet om my brood te eet.
6 Vanweë my harde gesug kleef my gebeente aan my vlees.
7 Ek is soos 'n pelikaan van die woestyn, ek het geword soos 'n uil op die puinhope.
8 Ek is slapeloos en het geword soos 'n eensame voël op die dak.
9 Die hele dag smaad my vyande my; die wat teen my raas, gebruik my naam as 'n vloek.
10 Want ek eet as soos brood en meng my drank met trane,
11 vanweë u grimmigheid en u toorn; want U het my opgehef en my weggewerp.
12 My dae is soos 'n skaduwee wat lank geword het, en ek, soos die plante verdor ek.
13 Maar U, o HERE, U bly tot in ewigheid, en u gedenknaam van geslag tot geslag.
14 U sal opstaan, U oor Sion ontferm; want dit is tyd om hom genadig te wees, want die bestemde tyd het gekom.
15 Want u knegte het sy klippe lief en het medelyde met sy puin.
16 Dan sal die heidene die Naam van die HERE vrees en al die konings van die aarde u heerlikheid;
17 omdat die HERE Sion opgebou het, in sy heerlikheid verskyn het,
18 Hom gewend het tot die gebed van wie ontbloot is, en hulle gebed nie verag het nie.
19 Dit sal vir die volgende geslag opgeskrywe word, en die volk wat geskape gaan word, sal die HERE loof;
20 omdat Hy van sy heilige hoogte neergesien het, die HERE uit die hemel op die aarde gelet het,
21 om die gekerm van die gevangene te hoor, om los te maak die kinders van die dood;
22 sodat hulle in Sion die Naam van die HERE kan vermeld en sy lof in Jerusalem,
23 as die volke almal saam vergader, ook die koninkryke om die HERE te dien.
24 Hy het my krag op die weg swak gemaak, my dae verkort.
25 My God, sê ek, neem my nie weg in die helfte van my dae nie -- u jare is van geslag tot geslag!
26 In die voortyd het U die aarde gegrondves, en die hemele is die werk van u hande.
27 Hulle sal vergaan, maar U sal bly; ja, hulle almal sal soos 'n kleed verslyt; U verwissel hulle soos 'n kledingstuk, en hulle verdwyn.
28 Maar U bly dieselfde, en u jare het geen einde nie. [ (Psalms 102:29) Die kinders van u knegte sal woon, en hulle nageslag sal voor u aangesig bly bestaan. ]