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A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

90 Lord, *thou* hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, and thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from eternity to eternity thou art God.

Thou makest [mortal] man to return to dust, and sayest, Return, children of men.

For a thousand years, in thy sight, are as yesterday when it is past, and [as] a watch in the night.

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are [as] a sleep: in the morning they are like grass [that] groweth up:

In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withereth.

For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy fury are we troubled.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret [sins] in the light of thy countenance.

For all our days pass away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a [passing] thought.

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet their pride is labour and vanity, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? and thy wrath according to the fear of thee?

12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may acquire a wise heart.

13 Return, Jehovah: how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

14 Satisfy us early with thy loving-kindness; that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad according to the days [wherein] thou hast afflicted us, according to the years [wherein] we have seen evil.

16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy majesty unto their sons.

17 And let the beauty of Jehovah our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us: yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it.

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