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BOOK IV (Psalms 90-106)

A prayer by Moses, the godly man

Life is Short

90 Lord, you’ve been our refuge[a]
    from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were formed
    or the earth and the world were brought forth,
        you are God from eternity to eternity.

You return people to dust
    merely by[b] saying, “Return, you mortals!”
One thousand years in your sight are but a single day
    that passes by, just like a night watch.
You will sweep them away while they are asleep—
    by morning they are like growing grass.
In the morning it blossoms and is renewed,
    but toward evening, it fades and withers.

Indeed, we are consumed[c] by your anger
    and terrified by your wrath.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    what we have concealed in the light of your presence.

All our days pass[d] away in your wrath;
    our years fade away[e] and end like a sigh.
10 We live for 70 years,
    or 80 years if we’re healthy,[f]
yet even in the prime years[g] there are troubles and sorrow.
    They pass by quickly and we fly away.

11 Who can know the intensity of your anger?
    Because our fear of you matches your wrath,
12 teach us to keep account of our days
    so we may develop inner wisdom.

13 Please return, Lord! When will it be?
    Comfort your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your gracious love
    so we may sing for joy
        and rejoice every day.
15 Cause us to rejoice throughout the time when you have afflicted us,
    the years when we have known[h] trouble.

16 May your awesome deeds be revealed to your servants,
    as well as your splendor to their children.
17 May your favor be on us, Lord our God;
    make our endeavors successful;
        yes, make our endeavors secure!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 90:1 Or our dwelling place
  2. Psalm 90:3 The Heb. lacks merely by
  3. Psalm 90:7 Lit. finished
  4. Psalm 90:9 Or turn
  5. Psalm 90:9 Lit. are finished
  6. Psalm 90:10 Lit. strong
  7. Psalm 90:10 Lit. the pride
  8. Psalm 90:15 Lit. seen

BOOK IV

Psalms 90–106

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place(A)
    throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born(B)
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting(C) you are God.(D)

You turn people back to dust,
    saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”(E)
A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.(F)
Yet you sweep people away(G) in the sleep of death—
    they are like the new grass of the morning:
In the morning it springs up new,
    but by evening it is dry and withered.(H)

We are consumed by your anger
    and terrified by your indignation.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins(I) in the light of your presence.(J)
All our days pass away under your wrath;
    we finish our years with a moan.(K)
10 Our days may come to seventy years,(L)
    or eighty,(M) if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,(N)
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.(O)
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
    Your wrath(P) is as great as the fear that is your due.(Q)
12 Teach us to number our days,(R)
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.(S)

13 Relent, Lord! How long(T) will it be?
    Have compassion on your servants.(U)
14 Satisfy(V) us in the morning with your unfailing love,(W)
    that we may sing for joy(X) and be glad all our days.(Y)
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
    your splendor to their children.(Z)

17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;
    establish the work of our hands for us—
    yes, establish the work of our hands.(AA)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 90:17 Or beauty