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Psalm 87

The Joy of Living in Zion

Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.
¹ On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
²   the Lord loves the gates of Zion
   more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
³ Glorious things are spoken of you,
   O city of God.
          Selah

⁴ Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
   Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia^*—
   ‘This one was born there,’ they say.

⁵ And of Zion it shall be said,
   ‘This one and that one were born in it’;
   for the Most High himself will establish it.
⁶ The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
   ‘This one was born there.’
          Selah

⁷ Singers and dancers alike say,
   ‘All my springs are in you.’

BOOK IV

(Psalms 90-106)

Psalm 90

God’s Eternity and Human Frailty

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

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

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

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

⁹ For all our days pass away under your wrath;
   our years come to an end^* like a sigh.
¹⁰ The 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.

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

¹³ Turn, O Lord! How long?
   Have compassion on your servants!
¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
   so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
   and for as many years as we have seen evil.
¹⁶ Let your work be manifest to your servants,
   and your glorious power to their children.
¹⁷ Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,
   and prosper for us the work of our hands—
   O prosper the work of our hands!