Psalms 90

Teach us to number our days

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.a ²Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.b ³You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.” ⁴For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.c

⁵You whisk them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning— ⁶in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers. ⁷For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath.

⁸You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence. ⁹For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh. ¹⁰The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.d

¹¹Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due. ¹²So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.e ¹³Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.

¹⁴Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.f ¹⁵Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil. ¹⁶May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children.g

¹⁷May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands— yes, establish the work of our hands!h