Salmos 90

God’s Eternity and Human Frailty

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.*The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm

1 O Lord, you have been our help*Or "dwelling place" in all generations.*Literally "in a generation and a generation"

2 Before the mountains were born

and you brought forth the earth and the world,

even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

3 You return man to the dust,

saying,*Literally "and you say" "Return, O sons of man."

4 For a thousand years in your eyes

are like yesterday when it passes,

or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away like a flood.

They fall asleep.*The interpretation of 5a is difficult

In the morning they are like grass that sprouts anew.

6 In the morning it blossoms and sprouts anew;

by evening it withers and dries up.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger,

and we hasten off*Or "we are terrified" by your wrath.

8 You have put our iniquities before you,

our hidden sins into the light of your countenance.

9 For all of our days dwindle away in your rage;

we complete our years like a sigh.

10 As for the days of our years, within them are seventy years

or if by strength eighty years, and their pride*Or "span" is trouble and disaster,

for it passes quickly and we fly away.

11 Who knows the strength of your anger,

and your rage consistent with*Hebrew "according to" the fear due you?

12 So teach us to number our days

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Return,*Or "Turn back your wrath" O Yahweh. How long?

And have compassion on*Or "change your mind concerning" your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

for as many years as we have seen calamity.

16 Let your work be visible to your servants,

and your majesty to their children.

17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish for us the work of our hands,

yes, the work of our hands, establish it.