Book Four: Psalms 90–106

Psalm 90

The Eternity of God, and Man’s Frailty

A Prayer aOf Moses the Man of God.

1 Lord, bYou have been our 1dwelling place in all generations.

2 cBefore the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever You 2had formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

3 You turn man to destruction,

And say, d“Return, O children of men.”

4 eFor a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it is past,

And like a watch in the night.

5 You carry them away like a flood;

fThey are like a sleep.

In the morning gthey are like grass which grows up:

6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up;

In the evening it is cut down and withers.

7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,

And by Your wrath we are terrified.

8 hYou have set our iniquities before You,

Our isecret sins in the light of Your countenance.

9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;

We finish our years like a sigh.

10 The days of our lives are seventy years;

And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,

Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11 Who knows the power of Your anger?

For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.

12 jSo teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord!

How long?

And khave compassion on Your servants.

14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,

lThat we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,

The years in which we have seen evil.

16 Let mYour work appear to Your servants,

And Your glory to their children.

17 nAnd let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,

And oestablish the work of our hands for us;

Yes, establish the work of our hands.