Psalms 90

(Psalms 90–106)

Eternal God and Mortal Man

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

1 Lord, you have been our refuge  * 90:1 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read dwelling place

in every generation.  * 90:1 Ps 71:3

2 Before the mountains were born,

before you gave birth to the earth and the world,

from eternity to eternity, you are God.  * 90:2 Jb 36:26; Ps 102:27; Pr 8:25

3 You return mankind to the dust,

saying, "Return, descendants of Adam."  * 90:3 Gn 3:19; Ec 12:7

4 For in your sight a thousand years

are like yesterday that passes by,

like a few hours of the night.  * 90:4 2Pt 3:8

5 You end their lives;  * 90:5 Or You overwhelm them; Hb obscure they sleep.  * 90:5 Jb 14:12

They are like grass that grows in the morning —

6 in the morning it sprouts and grows;

by evening it withers and dries up.  * 90:5–6 Jb 14:1–2; Ps 37:2; 103:15–16

7 For we are consumed by your anger;

we are terrified by your wrath.  * 90:7 Ps 39:11

8 You have set our iniquities before you,

our secret sins in the light of your presence.  * 90:8 Ps 19:12; Ec 12:14

9 For all our days ebb away under your wrath;

we end our years like a sigh.  * 90:9 Ps 78:33

10 Our lives last  * 90:10 Lit The days of our years in them seventy years

or, if we are strong, eighty years.

Even the best of them are  * 90:10 LXX, Tg, Syr, Vg read Even their span is; Hb obscure  struggle and sorrow;

indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.  * 90:10 Jb 20:8; Ps 78:39

11 Who understands the power of your anger?

Your wrath matches the fear that is due you.  * 90:11 Ps 76:7

12 Teach us to number our days carefully

so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.  * 90:12 Or develop a heart of wisdom,* 90:12 Dt 32:29; Ps 39:4; Ec 12:1; Eph 5:16–17

13 Lord  — how long?

Turn and have compassion on your servants.  * 90:13 Dt 32:36; Ps 135:14

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love

so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.  * 90:14 Ps 36:8; 65:4; 103:5

15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us,

for as many years as we have seen adversity.  * 90:15 Ps 86:4; 92:4

16 Let your work be seen by your servants,

and your splendor by their children.  * 90:16 Ps 96:6; Is 35:2

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;

establish for us the work of our hands —

establish the work of our hands!  * 90:17 Ps 27:4; Is 26:12