Mazmur 102:11-13

102:11 My days are coming to an end, ¹ 

and I am withered like grass.

102:12 But you, O Lord, rule forever, ² 

and your reputation endures. ³ 

102:13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. ⁴ 

For it is time to have mercy on her,

for the appointed time has come.

[102:11]  ¹ tn Heb “my days [are] like an extended [or “lengthening”] shadow,” that is, like a late afternoon shadow made by the descending sun that will soon be swallowed up by complete darkness.

[102:12]  ² tn Heb “sit” (i.e., sit enthroned, see Ps 9:7). The imperfect verbal form highlights the generalization.

[102:12]  ³ tn Heb “and your remembrance [is] for a generation and a generation.”

[102:13]  ⁴ tn The imperfect verbal forms are understood as expressing the psalmist’s confidence in God’s intervention. Another option is to take them as expressing the psalmist’s request or wish, “You, rise up and have compassion!”