Psalm 90:1-12

New International Version

BOOK IV

Psalms 90–106

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

¹Lord, you have been our dwelling place^(A)
    throughout all generations.
²Before the mountains were born^(B)
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting^(C) you are God.^(D)

³You turn people back to dust,
    saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”^(E)
⁴A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.^(F)
⁵Yet you sweep people away^(G) in the sleep of death—
    they are like the new grass of the morning:
⁶In the morning it springs up new,
    but by evening it is dry and withered.^(H)

⁷We are consumed by your anger
    and terrified by your indignation.
⁸You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins^(I) in the light of your presence.^(J)
⁹All our days pass away under your wrath;
    we finish our years with a moan.^(K)
¹⁰Our days may come to seventy years,^(L)
    or eighty,^(M) if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,^(N)
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.^(O)
¹¹If only we knew the power of your anger!
    Your wrath^(P) is as great as the fear that is your due.^(Q)
¹²Teach us to number our days,^(R)
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.^(S)