Psalms 102:18-22

102:18 The account of his intervention 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;

from heaven the Lord will look toward earth,

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

and to set free those condemned to die,

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

and praise him in Jerusalem,

102:22 when the nations gather together,

and the kingdoms pay tribute to the Lord.


tn 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.

tn Heb “from the height of his sanctuary.”

tn 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.

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

tn Heb “his praise.”

map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

tn “and the kingdoms to serve the Lord.”