BOOK IV

(Psalms 90-106)

Psalm 90

God’s Eternity and Human Frailty

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
¹Lord, you have been our dwelling-place^*
   in all generations.
²Before the mountains were brought forth,
   or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
   from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³You turn us^* back to dust,
   and say, ‘Turn back, you mortals.’
⁴For a thousand years in your sight
   are like yesterday when it is past,
   or like a watch in the night.

⁵You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
   like grass that is renewed in the morning;
⁶in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
   in the evening it fades and withers.

⁷For we are consumed by your anger;
   by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
⁸You have set our iniquities before you,
   our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

⁹For all our days pass away under your wrath;
   our years come to an end^* like a sigh.
¹⁰The days of our life are seventy years,
   or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span^* is only toil and trouble;
   they are soon gone, and we fly away.

¹¹Who considers the power of your anger?
   Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due to you.
¹²So teach us to count our days
   that we may gain a wise heart.