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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 4

From Everlasting to Everlasting, You Are God

A Prayer of [a]Moses, the man of God.

90 Lord, You have been our [b](A)dwelling place from generation to generation.
Before (B)the mountains were born
[c]Or You (C)brought forth the earth and the world,
Even (D)from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

You (E)turn man back into dust
And say, “Return, O sons of men.”
For (F)a thousand years in Your sight
Are like (G)yesterday when it passes by,
[d]Or as a (H)watch in the night.
You (I)have [e]swept them away like a flood, they [f](J)fall asleep;
In the morning they are like (K)grass which [g]sprouts anew.
In the morning it (L)blossoms and [h]sprouts anew;
Toward evening it (M)withers away and (N)dries up.

For we have been (O)consumed by Your anger
And by Your wrath we have been [i]dismayed.
You have (P)set our iniquities before You,
Our (Q)secret sins in the light of Your presence.
For (R)all our days have declined in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a [j]sigh.
10 As for the days of our [k]life, [l]they contain seventy years,
Or if due to might, (S)eighty years,
Yet their pride is but (T)labor and wickedness;
For soon it is gone and we (U)fly away.
11 Who knows the (V)power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the (W)fear [m]that is due You?
12 [n]So (X)teach us to number our days,
That we may [o](Y)present to You a heart of wisdom.

13 (Z)Return, O Yahweh; (AA)how long will it be?
And [p]be (AB)sorry for Your slaves.
14 O (AC)satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,
That we may (AD)sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 (AE)Make us glad [q]according to the days You have afflicted us,
And the (AF)years we have seen [r]evil.
16 Let Your (AG)work appear to Your slaves
And Your (AH)majesty [s]to their sons.
17 Let the (AI)favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
And (AJ)establish for us the work of our hands;
Establish the work of our hands.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 90 Title Deut 33:1
  2. Psalm 90:1 Or hiding place, help; some ancient mss place of refuge
  3. Psalm 90:2 Or And
  4. Psalm 90:4 Or And
  5. Psalm 90:5 Or flooded
  6. Psalm 90:5 Lit become asleep
  7. Psalm 90:5 Or passes away
  8. Psalm 90:6 Or passes away
  9. Psalm 90:7 Or terrified
  10. Psalm 90:9 Or whisper
  11. Psalm 90:10 Lit years
  12. Psalm 90:10 Lit in them are
  13. Psalm 90:11 Lit of You
  14. Psalm 90:12 Lit Cause us to know how to number our days
  15. Psalm 90:12 Or gain, bring in
  16. Psalm 90:13 Or repent in regard to
  17. Psalm 90:15 Or as many days as
  18. Psalm 90:15 Or trouble
  19. Psalm 90:16 Or upon