Psalms 90
1 BOOK FOURTH: “A prayer of Moses the man of God.” Lord, a place of refuge hast thou been unto us in all generations.
A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.
2 Before yet the mountains were brought forth, or thou hadst ever produced the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Before the mountains existed, and [before] the earth and the world were formed, even from age to age, You are.
3 Thou turnest man to contrition, and sayest, Return ye children of men.
Turn not man back to [his] low place, whereas you said, Return, you sons of men?
4 For a thousand years are in thy eyes but as the yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
For a thousand years in your sight are as the yesterday which is past, and as a watch in the night.
5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning [they grow] like the grass which changeth.
Years shall be vanity to them: let the morning pass away as grass.
6 In the morning it blossometh, and is changed: in the evening it is mowed off, and withereth.
In the morning let it flower, and pass away: in the evening let it droop, let it be withered and dried up.
7 For [thus] are we consumed by thy anger, and by thy fury are we terrified.
For we have perished in your anger, and in your wrath we have been troubled.
8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our concealed sins before the light of thy countenance.
You have set our transgressions before you: our age is in the light of your countenance.
9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we consume our years like a word that is spoken.
For all our days are gone, and we have passed away in your wrath: our years have spun out their tale as a spider.
10 The days of our years in this life are seventy years; and if by uncommon vigor they be eighty, yet is their greatness trouble and mishap; for it soon hasteneth off, and we fly away.
[As for] the days of our years, in them are seventy years; and if [men should be] in strength, eighty years: and the greater part of them would be labor and trouble; for weakness overtakes us, and we shall be chastened.
11 Who knoweth the strength of thy anger, and thy wrath which is like the fear of thee?
Who knows the power of your wrath?
12 Let us then know how to number our days, that we may obtain a heart endowed with wisdom.
and [who knows how] to number [his days] because of the fear of your wrath? So manifest your right hand, and those that are instructed in wisdom in the heart.
13 Return, O Lord, how long yet? and bethink thee concerning thy servants.
Return, O Lord, how long? and be entreated concerning your servants.
14 O satisfy us in the morning with thy kindness, that we may be glad and rejoice throughout all our days.
We have been satisfied in the morning with your mercy; and we did exult and rejoice:
15 Cause us to rejoice as many days as those wherein thou hast afflicted us, the years wherein we have seen unhappiness.
let us rejoice in all our days, in return for the days wherein you did afflict us, the years wherein we saw evil.
16 Let thy act be visible on thy servants, and thy majesty over their children.
And look upon your servants, and upon your works; and guide their children.
17 And may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and the work of our hands do thou firmly establish upon us: yea, the work of our hands—firmly establish thou it.
And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and do you direct for us the works of our hands.
