1Lord, from the very beginning you have been like a home to us.2Before you created the whole world and the mountains were made, from the beginning to the end you are God.3You turn human beings back to dust. You say to them, ‘Return to dust.’4To you a thousand years are like a day that has just gone by. They are like a few hours of the night.5Yet you sweep people away, and they die. They are like new grass that grows in the morning.6In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it’s all dried up.7Your anger destroys us. Your burning anger terrifies us.8You have put our sins right in front of you. You have placed our secret sins where you can see them clearly.9You have been angry with us all of our days. We groan as we come to the end of our lives.10We live to be about 70. Or we may live to be 80, if we stay healthy. But even our best days are filled with trouble and sorrow. The years quickly pass, and we are gone.11If only we knew the power of your anger! It’s as great as the respect we should have for you.12Teach us to realise how short our lives are. Then our hearts will become wise.13LORD, please stop punishing us! How long will you keep it up? Be kind to us.14Satisfy us with your faithful love every morning. Then we can sing for joy and be glad all our days.15Make us glad for as many days as you have made us suffer. Give us joy for as many years as we’ve had trouble.16Show us your mighty acts. Let our children see your glorious power.17May the Lord our God always be pleased with us. Lord, make what we do succeed. Please make what we do succeed.
Psalm 90
English Standard Version
From Everlasting to Everlasting
1A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place[1] in all generations. (De 33:1; Jos 14:6; Ezr 3:2; Ps 17:1; Ps 55:1; Ps 71:3)2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (De 33:15; Job 15:7; Job 36:26; Pr 8:25)3You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”[2] (Ge 3:19; Ec 12:7)4For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Ex 14:24; Jud 7:19; Ps 39:5; 2Pe 3:8)5You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: (2Ki 19:26; Job 20:8; Ps 37:2; Ps 58:9; Ps 103:15; Isa 40:6; 1Pe 1:24)6in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. (Job 4:20; Job 14:2; Ps 92:7; Jas 1:11)7For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. (Ps 19:12; Jer 16:17; Heb 4:13)9For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.10The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span[3] is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.11Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?12So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Ps 39:4)13Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (Ge 6:6; Ex 32:12; De 32:36; Jud 2:18; Ps 6:4; Ps 74:9; Ps 106:45; Ps 135:14; Jon 3:10)14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Ps 46:5; Ps 85:6)15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. (De 8:2)16Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. (De 32:4; Ps 77:12; Ps 92:4; Ps 95:9; Hab 3:2)17Let the favor[4] of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Ps 27:4; Ps 128:2; Isa 26:12)