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BOOK 4

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

90 Lord,[b] you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
    Before the mountains were born,
    before you had formed the earth and the world,
    even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
You turn man to destruction, saying,
    “Return, you children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past,
    like a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as they sleep.
    In the morning they sprout like new grass.
In the morning it sprouts and springs up.
    By evening, it is withered and dry.
For we are consumed in your anger.
    We are troubled in 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 in your wrath.
    We bring our years to an end as a sigh.
10 The days of our years are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty years;
    yet their pride is but labor and sorrow,
    for it passes quickly, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of your anger,
    your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?
12 So teach us to count our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Yahweh![c]
    How long?
    Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work appear to your servants,
    your glory to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us.
    Establish the work of our hands for us.
    Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Footnotes

  1. 90:0 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
  2. 90:1 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
  3. 90:13 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

BOOK IV (Psalms 90-106)

A prayer by Moses, the godly man

Life is Short

90 Lord, you’ve been our refuge[a]
    from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were formed
    or the earth and the world were brought forth,
        you are God from eternity to eternity.

You return people to dust
    merely by[b] saying, “Return, you mortals!”
One thousand years in your sight are but a single day
    that passes by, just like a night watch.
You will sweep them away while they are asleep—
    by morning they are like growing grass.
In the morning it blossoms and is renewed,
    but toward evening, it fades and withers.

Indeed, we are consumed[c] by your anger
    and terrified by your wrath.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    what we have concealed in the light of your presence.

All our days pass[d] away in your wrath;
    our years fade away[e] and end like a sigh.
10 We live for 70 years,
    or 80 years if we’re healthy,[f]
yet even in the prime years[g] there are troubles and sorrow.
    They pass by quickly and we fly away.

11 Who can know the intensity of your anger?
    Because our fear of you matches your wrath,
12 teach us to keep account of our days
    so we may develop inner wisdom.

13 Please return, Lord! When will it be?
    Comfort your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your gracious love
    so we may sing for joy
        and rejoice every day.
15 Cause us to rejoice throughout the time when you have afflicted us,
    the years when we have known[h] trouble.

16 May your awesome deeds be revealed to your servants,
    as well as your splendor to their children.
17 May your favor be on us, Lord our God;
    make our endeavors successful;
        yes, make our endeavors secure!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 90:1 Or our dwelling place
  2. Psalm 90:3 The Heb. lacks merely by
  3. Psalm 90:7 Lit. finished
  4. Psalm 90:9 Or turn
  5. Psalm 90:9 Lit. are finished
  6. Psalm 90:10 Lit. strong
  7. Psalm 90:10 Lit. the pride
  8. Psalm 90:15 Lit. seen