Prayers of Moses

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A Prayer of Moses (Psalm 90)

A psalm of Moses

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Psalms 90:1–17

1Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. 3You turn man to destruction, and say, 'Return, you children of men.' 4For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 5You carry them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep. In the morning they are like grass that grows up. 6In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers. 7For we are consumed by your anger, and by your wrath we are troubled. 8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9For all our days are passed away in your wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10The days of our years are seventy; and if by reason of strength they are eighty, yet their strength is labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11Who knows the power of your anger? Even according to your fear, so is your wrath. 12So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. 13Return, O LORD, how long? And let it repent you concerning your servants. 14O satisfy us early with your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15Make us glad according to the days in which you have afflicted us, and the years in which we have seen evil. 16Let your work appear to your servants, and your glory to their children. 17And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, the work of our hands, establish it.

Read Psalms 90

About this passage

What happened

This psalm begins, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” It says a thousand years are like yesterday to God, while human life passes quickly. It admits that people are worn down by God's anger at their sin. It asks God to teach us to number our days, to have pity on his servants, and to establish the work of our hands.

Where this fits

One of 17 passages in Moses' Prayers of Moses, in the group “A psalm of Moses.”

Good to know

The title of Psalm 90 calls it “a prayer of Moses the man of God.” The Bible does not say when he prayed it.

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