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Book IV

(Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

God’s Eternity and Human Frailty

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place[a]
    in all generations.(A)
Before the mountains were brought forth
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.(B)

You turn us[b] back to dust
    and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”(C)
For a thousand years in your sight
    are like yesterday when it is past
    or like a watch in the night.(D)

You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning;(E)
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.(F)

For we are consumed by your anger;
    by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your countenance.(G)

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    our years come to an end[c] like a sigh.(H)
10 The days of our life are seventy years
    or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span[d] is only toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.(I)

11 Who considers the power of your anger?
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.(J)
12 So teach us to count our days
    that we may gain a wise heart.(K)

13 Turn, O Lord! How long?
    Have compassion on your servants!(L)
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.(M)
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us
    and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants
    and your glorious power to their children.(N)
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us
    and prosper for us the work of our hands—
    O prosper the work of our hands!(O)

Psalm 91

Assurance of God’s Protection

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,[e](P)
will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”(Q)
For he will deliver you from the snare of the hunter
    and from the deadly pestilence;(R)
he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and defense.(S)
You will not fear the terror of the night
    or the arrow that flies by day(T)
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness
    or the destruction that wastes at noonday.(U)

A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.(V)

Because you have made the Lord your refuge,[f]
    the Most High your dwelling place,
10 no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.(W)

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.(X)
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.(Y)

14 Those who love me, I will deliver;
    I will protect those who know my name.(Z)
15 When they call to me, I will answer them;
    I will be with them in trouble;
    I will rescue them and honor them.(AA)
16 With long life I will satisfy them
    and show them my salvation.(AB)

Footnotes

  1. 90.1 Or our refuge
  2. 90.3 Heb humankind
  3. 90.9 Syr: Heb we bring our years to an end
  4. 90.10 Cn Compare Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb pride
  5. 91.1 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
  6. 91.9 Cn: Heb Because you, Lord, are my refuge; you have made