Psalms 90:1-15

Book 4
(Psalms 90-106)

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

90:1 O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations!

90:2 Even before the mountains came into existence,

or you brought the world into being,

you were the eternal God.

90:3 You make mankind return to the dust,

and say, “Return, O people!”

90:4 Yes, in your eyes a thousand years

are like yesterday that quickly passes,

or like one of the divisions of the nighttime.

90:5 You bring their lives to an end and they “fall asleep.”

In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up;

90:6 in the morning it glistens and sprouts up;

at evening time it withers and dries up.

90:7 Yes, we are consumed by your anger;

we are terrified by your wrath.

90:8 You are aware of our sins;

you even know about our hidden sins.

90:9 Yes, throughout all our days we experience your raging fury;

the years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh.

90:10 The days of our lives add up to seventy years,

or eighty, if one is especially strong.

But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression.

Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.

90:11 Who can really fathom the intensity of your anger?

Your raging fury causes people to fear you.

90:12 So teach us to consider our mortality,

so that we might live wisely.

90:13 Turn back toward us, O Lord!

How long must this suffering last?

Have pity on your servants!

90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love!

Then we will shout for joy and be happy all our days!

90:15 Make us happy in proportion to the days you have afflicted us,

in proportion to the years we have experienced trouble!