TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS
Key verse: 90:12
NIV
BOOK IVPsalms 90–106Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place(A)
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born(B)
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting(C) you are God.(D)
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”(E)
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.(F)
5 Yet you sweep people away(G) in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.(H)
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins(I) in the light of your presence.(J)
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.(K)
10 Our 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)
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath(P) is as great as the fear that is your due.(Q)
12 Teach us to number our days,(R)
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.(S)
13 Relent, Lord! How long(T) will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.(U)
14 Satisfy(V) us in the morning with your unfailing love,(W)
that we may sing for joy(X) and be glad all our days.(Y)
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.(Z)
Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place(A)
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born(B)
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting(C) you are God.(D)
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”(E)
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.(F)
5 Yet you sweep people away(G) in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.(H)
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins(I) in the light of your presence.(J)
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.(K)
10 Our 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)
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath(P) is as great as the fear that is your due.(Q)
12 Teach us to number our days,(R)
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.(S)
13 Relent, Lord! How long(T) will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.(U)
14 Satisfy(V) us in the morning with your unfailing love,(W)
that we may sing for joy(X) and be glad all our days.(Y)
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.(Z)
Footnotes
- Psalm 90:17 Or beauty
Cross references
- Psalm 90:1 : S Dt 33:27; Eph 2:22; Rev 21:3
- Psalm 90:2 : S Job 15:7
- Psalm 90:2 : Isa 9:6; 57:15
- Psalm 90:2 : S Ge 21:33; S Job 10:5; Ps 102:24-27; Pr 8:23-26
- Psalm 90:3 : S Ge 2:7; S Job 7:21; 34:15; 1Co 15:47
- Psalm 90:4 : S Job 10:5; 2Pe 3:8
- Psalm 90:5 : S Ge 19:15
- Psalm 90:6 : Isa 40:6-8; Mt 6:30; Jas 1:10
- Psalm 90:8 : S Ps 19:12; 2Co 4:2; Eph 5:12
- Psalm 90:8 : S Heb 4:13
- Psalm 90:9 : Ps 78:33
- Psalm 90:10 : Isa 23:15, 17; Jer 25:11
- Psalm 90:10 : 2Sa 19:35
- Psalm 90:10 : S Job 5:7
- Psalm 90:10 : S Job 20:8; S 34:15
- Psalm 90:11 : Ps 7:11
- Psalm 90:11 : Ps 76:7
- Psalm 90:12 : Ps 39:4; 139:16; Pr 16:9; 20:24
- Psalm 90:12 : Dt 32:29
- Psalm 90:13 : Ps 6:3
- Psalm 90:13 : S Dt 32:36
- Psalm 90:14 : Ps 103:5; 107:9; 145:16, 19
- Psalm 90:14 : S Ps 77:8; 143:8
- Psalm 90:14 : S Ps 5:11
- Psalm 90:14 : Ps 31:7
- Psalm 90:16 : Ps 44:1; Hab 3:2
- Psalm 90:17 : Isa 26:12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Book FourFrom Everlasting to Everlasting
A (A)Prayer of Moses, the (B)man of God.90 Lord, you have been our (C)dwelling place[a]
in all generations.
2 (D)Before the (E)mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
(F)from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
and say, (G)“Return, (H)O children of man!”[b]
4 For (I)a thousand years in your sight
are but as (J)yesterday when it is past,
or as (K)a watch in the night.
5 You (L)sweep them away as with a flood; they are like (M)a dream,
like (N)grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in (O)the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it (P)fades and (Q)withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have (R)set our iniquities before you,
our (S)secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 (T)So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 (U)Return, O Lord! (V)How long?
Have (W)pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the (X)morning with your steadfast love,
that we may (Y)rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have (Z)afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your (AA)work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the (AB)favor[d] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish (AC)the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
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Footnotes
- Psalm 90:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Septuagint) our refuge
- Psalm 90:3 Or of Adam
- Psalm 90:10 Or pride
- Psalm 90:17 Or beauty
Cross references
- Psalm 90:1 : Ps. 17, title; 55:1
- Psalm 90:1 : Deut. 33:1; Josh. 14:6; Ezra 3:2
- Psalm 90:1 : See Ps. 71:3
- Psalm 90:2 : Prov. 8:25
- Psalm 90:2 : [Deut. 33:15; Job 15:7]
- Psalm 90:2 : See Job 36:26
- Psalm 90:3 : Gen. 3:19
- Psalm 90:3 : Eccles. 12:7
- Psalm 90:4 : 2 Pet. 3:8
- Psalm 90:4 : [Ps. 39:5]
- Psalm 90:4 : Ex. 14:24; Judg. 7:19
- Psalm 90:5 : Ps. 58:9
- Psalm 90:5 : See Job 20:8
- Psalm 90:5 : Ps. 37:2; 103:15; 2 Kgs. 19:26; Isa. 40:6-8; 1 Pet. 1:24
- Psalm 90:6 : See Job 4:20
- Psalm 90:6 : Job 14:2; [Ps. 92:7]
- Psalm 90:6 : James 1:11
- Psalm 90:8 : Jer. 16:17; Heb. 4:13
- Psalm 90:8 : Ps. 19:12
- Psalm 90:12 : Ps. 39:4
- Psalm 90:13 : Ps. 6:4
- Psalm 90:13 : See Ps. 74:9, 10
- Psalm 90:13 : Ps. 106:45; 135:14; Ex. 32:12; Deut. 32:36; Judg. 2:18; Jonah 3:10; See Gen. 6:6
- Psalm 90:14 : See Ps. 46:5
- Psalm 90:14 : See Ps. 85:6
- Psalm 90:15 : [Deut. 8:2]
- Psalm 90:16 : Ps. 77:12; 92:4; 95:9; Deut. 32:4; Hab. 3:2
- Psalm 90:17 : Ps. 27:4
- Psalm 90:17 : [Ps. 128:2]; [Isa. 26:12]
90 Lord, you have been our (C)dwelling place[a]
in all generations.
2 (D)Before the (E)mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
(F)from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
and say, (G)“Return, (H)O children of man!”[b]
4 For (I)a thousand years in your sight
are but as (J)yesterday when it is past,
or as (K)a watch in the night.
5 You (L)sweep them away as with a flood; they are like (M)a dream,
like (N)grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in (O)the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it (P)fades and (Q)withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have (R)set our iniquities before you,
our (S)secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 (T)So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 (U)Return, O Lord! (V)How long?
Have (W)pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the (X)morning with your steadfast love,
that we may (Y)rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have (Z)afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your (AA)work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the (AB)favor[d] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish (AC)the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
Footnotes
- Psalm 90:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Septuagint) our refuge
- Psalm 90:3 Or of Adam
- Psalm 90:10 Or pride
- Psalm 90:17 Or beauty
Cross references
- Psalm 90:1 : Ps. 17, title; 55:1
- Psalm 90:1 : Deut. 33:1; Josh. 14:6; Ezra 3:2
- Psalm 90:1 : See Ps. 71:3
- Psalm 90:2 : Prov. 8:25
- Psalm 90:2 : [Deut. 33:15; Job 15:7]
- Psalm 90:2 : See Job 36:26
- Psalm 90:3 : Gen. 3:19
- Psalm 90:3 : Eccles. 12:7
- Psalm 90:4 : 2 Pet. 3:8
- Psalm 90:4 : [Ps. 39:5]
- Psalm 90:4 : Ex. 14:24; Judg. 7:19
- Psalm 90:5 : Ps. 58:9
- Psalm 90:5 : See Job 20:8
- Psalm 90:5 : Ps. 37:2; 103:15; 2 Kgs. 19:26; Isa. 40:6-8; 1 Pet. 1:24
- Psalm 90:6 : See Job 4:20
- Psalm 90:6 : Job 14:2; [Ps. 92:7]
- Psalm 90:6 : James 1:11
- Psalm 90:8 : Jer. 16:17; Heb. 4:13
- Psalm 90:8 : Ps. 19:12
- Psalm 90:12 : Ps. 39:4
- Psalm 90:13 : Ps. 6:4
- Psalm 90:13 : See Ps. 74:9, 10
- Psalm 90:13 : Ps. 106:45; 135:14; Ex. 32:12; Deut. 32:36; Judg. 2:18; Jonah 3:10; See Gen. 6:6
- Psalm 90:14 : See Ps. 46:5
- Psalm 90:14 : See Ps. 85:6
- Psalm 90:15 : [Deut. 8:2]
- Psalm 90:16 : Ps. 77:12; 92:4; 95:9; Deut. 32:4; Hab. 3:2
- Psalm 90:17 : Ps. 27:4
- Psalm 90:17 : [Ps. 128:2]; [Isa. 26:12]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
First, 'you have been our dwelling place' (1-6). Moses knew God intimately, and shares the awesomeness and timelessness of God in his relationship with sinful man. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. He is sovereign over man's lives, seeing every moment and every generation, as a thousand years are like a day. Second, 'establish the work of our hands' (7-17). God who is timeless and Lord over all creation also knows and deals with the sins of man. Nothing is secret to him. His wrath on sin consumes and terrifies. In view of his presence, we pray to number our days, consider the short span of life, and gain a heart of wisdom to live before him daily. As we live before him, we long for his unfailing love to satisfy us daily. As many days we have been afflicted or in trouble, we have countless days of joy in God's eternal kingdom. His deeds are passed down to our children. With the favor of the Lord the work of our hands has meaning and is established.
Prayer: Father, thank you for dwelling with your people. Teach me to number my days.
One Word: Gain a heart of wisdom
