Psalm 90:1-17

  • Eternal God and short-lived man

    • A thousand years as yesterday (4)

    • Man lives 70-80 years (10)

    • “Teach us how to count our days” (12)

A prayer of Moses, the man of the true God.+ 90  O Jehovah, you have been our dwelling place*+ throughout all generations.  2  Before the mountains were bornOr you brought forth* the earth and the productive land,+From everlasting to everlasting,* you are God.+  3  You make mortal man return to dust;You say: “Return, you sons of men.”+  4  For a thousand years are in your eyes just as yesterday when it is past,+Just as a watch during the night.  5  You sweep them away;+ they become like mere sleep;In the morning they are like grass that sprouts.+  6  In the morning it blossoms and is renewed,But by evening it withers and dries up.+  7  For we are consumed by your anger+And terrified by your rage.  8  You place our errors in front of you;*+Our secrets are exposed by the light of your face.+  9  Our days ebb* away because of your fury;And our years come to an end like a whisper.* 10  The span of our life is 70 years,Or 80+ if one is especially strong.* But they are filled with trouble and sorrow;They quickly pass by, and away we fly.+ 11  Who can fathom the power of your anger? Your fury is as great as the fear you deserve.+ 12  Teach us how to count our days+So that we may acquire a heart of wisdom. 13  Return, O Jehovah!+ How long will this last?+ Have pity on your servants.+ 14  Satisfy us with your loyal love+ in the morning,So that we may shout joyfully and rejoice+ during all our days. 15  Make us rejoice in proportion to the days you have afflicted us,+For as many years as we have experienced calamity.+ 16  May your servants see your activity,And may their sons see your splendor.+ 17  May the favor of Jehovah our God be upon us;May you prosper* the work of our hands. Yes, prosper* the work of our hands.+

Footnotes

Or possibly, “our refuge.”
Or “brought forth as with labor pains.”
Or “From eternity to eternity.”
Or “You are aware of our errors.”
Or “Our life ebbs.”
Or “a sigh.”
Or “because of special mightiness.”
Or “firmly establish.”
Or “firmly establish.”