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Get a Heart of Wisdom

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.
My Lord, You have been our dwelling
    from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were born,
or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting,
    You are God!
You turn mankind back to dust, saying,
“Return, children of Adam!”
For a thousand years in Your sight
are like a day just passing by,
or like a watch in the night.
You sweep them away in their sleep.
In the morning they are like sprouting grass—
in the morning it flourishes and springs up,
by evening it withers and dries up.

For we are consumed by Your anger
and terrified by Your wrath.
You have set our iniquities before You,
our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
For all our days have passed away under Your wrath.
We spent our years like a sigh.
10 The span of our years is seventy
—or with strength, eighty—
yet at best they are trouble and sorrow.
For they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
Your fury leads to awe of you.

12 So teach us to number our days,
so that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Adonai! How long?
Have compassion on Your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your love,
so we may sing for joy
and be glad all our days.
15 Gladden us for as many days as You have humbled us,
as many years as we have seen misery.
16 Let Your work appear to Your servants,
and Your splendor on their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.
Establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

BOOK IV

(Psalms 90–106)

Eternal God and Mortal Man

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

90 Lord, you have been our refuge[a]
in every generation.(A)
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from eternity to eternity, you are God.(B)

You return mankind to the dust,
saying, ‘Return, descendants of Adam.’(C)
For in your sight a thousand years
are like yesterday that passes by,
like a few hours of the night.(D)
You end their lives;[b] they sleep.(E)
They are like grass that grows in the morning –
in the morning it sprouts and grows;
by the evening it withers and dries up.(F)

For we are consumed by your anger;
we are terrified by your wrath.(G)
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.(H)
For all our days ebb away under your wrath;
we end our years like a sigh.(I)
10 Our lives last[c] for seventy years
or, if we are strong, eighty years.
Even the best of them are[d] struggle and sorrow;
indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.(J)
11 Who understands the power of your anger?
Your wrath matches the fear that is due you.(K)
12 Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.[e](L)

13 Lord – how long?
Turn and have compassion on your servants.(M)
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love
so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.(N)
15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us,
for as many years as we have seen adversity.(O)
16 Let your work be seen by your servants,
and your splendour by their children.(P)
17 Let the favour of the Lord our God be on us;
establish for us the work of our hands –
establish the work of our hands!(Q)

Footnotes

  1. 90:1 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read dwelling place
  2. 90:5 Or You overwhelm them; Hb obscure
  3. 90:10 Lit The days of our years in them
  4. 90:10 LXX, Tg, Syr, Vg read Even their span is; Hb obscure
  5. 90:12 Or develop a heart of wisdom

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
Book name not found: Psalm for the version: Mam, Central.