Psalms 102:18-22

Context

102:18 The account of his intervention¹ will be recorded for future generations;

people yet to be born will praise the Lord.

102:19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above;²

from heaven the Lord will look toward earth,³

102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners,

and to set free those condemned to die,⁴

102:21 so they may proclaim the name of the Lord in Zion,

and praise him⁵ in Jerusalem,⁶

102:22 when the nations gather together,

and the kingdoms pay tribute to the Lord.⁷

[102:18] ¹tn The Hebrew text has simply “this,” referring to the anticipated divine intervention on behalf of Zion (vv. 13, 16-17). The referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[102:19] ²tn Heb “from the height of his sanctuary.”

[102:19] ³tn The perfect verbal forms in v. 19 are functioning as future perfects, indicating future actions that will precede the future developments described in v. 18.

[102:20] ³tn Heb “the sons of death.” The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 79:11) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.

[102:21] ⁴tn Heb “his praise.”

[102:21] ⁵map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[102:22] ⁵tn “and the kingdoms to serve the Lord.”