Psalms 90 WEB
Summary: Opening Book IV, this is "A Prayer of Moses the man of God," the only psalm attributed to him, meditating on human transience against God's eternity: "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations... from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (v. 1-2). Against that backdrop, human life is fleeting — "a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday" (v. 4) and people are "as a sleep," like grass that grows in the morning and withers by evening (v. 5-6). Aware that life is shortened further by sin and toil ("threescore years and ten," v. 10), the psalmist prays for wisdom to face mortality rightly: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (v. 12).
1Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
2Before the mountains were born, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
3You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.”
4For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past, like a watch in the night.
5You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.
6In the morning it sprouts and springs up. By evening, it is withered and dry.
7For we are consumed in your anger. We are troubled in your wrath.
8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9For all our days have passed away in your wrath. We bring our years to an end as a sigh.
10The 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.
11Who knows the power of your anger, your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?
12So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13Relent, Yahweh! How long? Have compassion on your servants!
14Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.
16Let your work appear to your servants, your glory to their children.
17Let 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.
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