You turn people back to dust,
    saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”(A)
A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.(B)

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Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

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

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All our days pass away under your wrath;
    we finish our years with a moan.(A)
10 Our days may come to seventy years,(B)
    or eighty,(C) if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,(D)
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.(E)
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
    Your wrath(F) is as great as the fear that is your due.(G)
12 Teach us to number our days,(H)
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.(I)

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For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

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

11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

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