God’s Eternity and the Brevity of Human Life.

A Prayer of [a]Moses, the man of God.

1Lord, You have been our [b]dwelling place in all generations.

2Before the mountains were born

[c]Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

3You turn mortals back into dust

And say, “Return, you sons of mankind.”

4For a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it passes by,

[d]Or like a watch in the night.

5You have [e]swept them away like a flood, they [f]fall asleep;

In the morning they are like grass that [g]sprouts anew.

6In the morning it flourishes and [h]sprouts anew;

Toward evening it wilts and withers away.

7For we have been consumed by Your anger,

And we have been terrified by Your wrath.

8You have placed our guilty deeds before You,

Our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.

9For all our days have dwindled away in Your fury;

We have finished our years like a [i]sigh.

10As for the days of our [j]life, [k]they contain seventy years,

Or if due to strength, eighty years,

Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;

For it quickly passes, and we disappear.

11Who [l]understands the power of Your anger

And Your fury, according to the fear [m]that is due You?

12So teach us to number our days,

That we may [n]present to You a heart of wisdom.

13Do return, LORD; how long will it be?

And [o]be sorry for Your servants.

14Satisfy us in the morning with Your graciousness,

That we may sing for joy and rejoice all our days.

15Make us glad [p]according to the days You have afflicted us,

And the years we have seen [q]evil.

16Let Your work appear to Your servants

And Your majesty [r]to their children.

17May the kindness of the Lord our God be upon us;

And [s]confirm for us the work of our hands;

Yes, [t]confirm the work of our hands.