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.

BOOK IV A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place 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 were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

3 Thou turnest man to contrition, and sayest, Return ye children of men.

Thou turnest man to contrition; and sayest: 'Return, ye children 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 Thy sight are but as yesterday when it 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.

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep; in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

6 In the morning it blossometh, and is changed: in the evening it is mowed off, and withereth.

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7 For [thus] are we consumed by thy anger, and by thy fury are we terrified.

For we are consumed in Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we hurried away.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our concealed sins before the light of thy countenance.

Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy 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 passed away in Thy wrath; we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told.

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.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years; yet is their pride but travail and vanity; for it is speedily gone, and we fly away.

11 Who knoweth the strength of thy anger, and thy wrath which is like the fear of thee?

Who knoweth the power of Thine anger, and Thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto Thee?

12 Let us then know how to number our days, that we may obtain a heart endowed with wisdom.

So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord, how long yet? and bethink thee concerning thy servants.

Return, O LORD; how long? And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants.

14 O satisfy us in the morning with thy kindness, that we may be glad and rejoice throughout all our days.

O satisfy us in the morning with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Cause us to rejoice as many days as those wherein thou hast afflicted us, the years wherein we have seen unhappiness.

Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, according to the years wherein we have seen evil.

16 Let thy act be visible on thy servants, and thy majesty over their children.

Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory upon 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 graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; establish Thou also upon us the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.