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BOOK FOUR

(Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

A prayer by Moses, the man of Elohim.

O Adonay, you have been our refuge throughout every generation.
Before the mountains were born,
    before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were El.
        You are El from everlasting to everlasting.

You turn mortals back into dust
    and say, “Return, descendants of Adam.”
Indeed, in your sight a thousand years are like a single day,
    like yesterday—already past—
    like an hour in the night.
You sweep mortals away.
    They are a dream.
    They sprout again in the morning like cut grass.
        In the morning they blossom and sprout.
        In the evening they wither and dry up.

Indeed, your anger consumes us.
    Your rage terrifies us.
        You have set our sins in front of you.
        You have put our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury.
    We live out our years like one long sigh.
10 Each of us lives for 70 years—
    or even 80 if we are in good health.
        But the best of them[a] bring trouble and misery.
            Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who fully understands the power of your anger?
    A person fears you more when he better understands your fury.[b]
12 Teach us to number each of our days
    so that we may grow in wisdom.

13 Return, Yahweh! How long . . . ?
    Change your plans about us, your servants.
14 Satisfy us every morning with your mercy
    so that we may sing joyfully and rejoice all our days.
15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have made us suffer,
    for as many years as we have experienced evil.
16 Let us, your servants, see what you can do.
    Let our children see your glorious power.
17 Let the kindness of Adonay our Elohim be with us.
    Make us successful in everything we do.
        Yes, make us successful in everything we do.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 90:10 Hebrew meaning of “the best of them” uncertain.
  2. Psalm 90:11 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

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