Book Four (Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

The Brevity of Life

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

1Lord, through all the generations

you have been our home!

2Before the mountains were born,

before you gave birth to the earth and the world,

from beginning to end, you are God.

3You turn people back to dust, saying,

“Return to dust, you mortals!”

4For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,

as brief as a few night hours.

5You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.

They are like grass that springs up in the morning.

6In the morning it blooms and flourishes,

but by evening it is dry and withered.

7We wither beneath your anger;

we are overwhelmed by your fury.

8You spread out our sins before you—

our secret sins—and you see them all.

9We live our lives beneath your wrath,

ending our years with a groan.

10Seventy years are given to us!

Some even live to eighty.

But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;

soon they disappear, and we fly away.

11Who can comprehend the power of your anger?

Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.

12Teach us to realize the brevity of life,

so that we may grow in wisdom.

13O Lord, come back to us!

How long will you delay?

Take pity on your servants!

14Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,

so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

15Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!

Replace the evil years with good.

16Let us, your servants, see you work again;

let our children see your glory.

17And may the Lord our God show us his approval

and make our efforts successful.

Yes, make our efforts successful!