Book Four

From Everlasting to Everlasting

A (A)Prayer of Moses, the (B)man of God.

90 Lord, you have been our (C)dwelling place[a]
    in all generations.
(D)Before the (E)mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    (F)from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You return man to dust
    and say, (G)“Return, (H)O children of man!”[b]
For (I)a thousand years in your sight
    are but as (J)yesterday when it is past,
    or as (K)a watch in the night.

You (L)sweep them away as with a flood; they are like (M)a dream,
    like (N)grass that is renewed in the morning:
in (O)the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it (P)fades and (Q)withers.

For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have (R)set our iniquities before you,
    our (S)secret sins in the light of your presence.

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 (T)So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 90:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Septuagint) our refuge
  2. Psalm 90:3 Or of Adam
  3. Psalm 90:10 Or pride

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)

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