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Book IV

Psalms 90–106

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

90 Lord, from the very beginning
    you have been like a home to us.
Before you created the whole world and the mountains were made,
    from the beginning to the end you are God.

You turn human beings back to dust.
    You say to them, “Return to dust.”
To you a thousand years
    are like a day that has just gone by.
    They are like a few hours of the night.
Yet you sweep people away, and they die.
    They are like new grass that grows in the morning.
In the morning it springs up new,
    but by evening it’s all dried up.

Your anger destroys us.
    Your burning anger terrifies us.
You have put our sins right in front of you.
    You have placed our secret sins where you can see them clearly.
You have been angry with us all of our days.
    We groan as we come to the end of our lives.
10 We live to be about 70.
    Or we may live to be 80, if we stay healthy.
But even our best days are filled with trouble and sorrow.
    The years quickly pass, and we are gone.

11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
    It’s as great as the respect we should have for you.
12 Teach us to realize how short our lives are.
    Then our hearts will become wise.

13 Lord, please stop punishing us!
    How long will you keep it up?
    Be kind to us.
14 Satisfy us with your faithful love every morning.
    Then we can sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have made us suffer.
    Give us joy for as many years as we’ve had trouble.
16 Show us your mighty acts.
    Let our children see your glorious power.

17 May the Lord our God always be pleased with us.
    Lord, make what we do succeed.
    Please make what we do succeed.

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