God’s Eternity and Man’s Transitoriness.

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

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

2Before the mountains were born
         Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
         Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

3You turn man back into dust
         And say, “Return, O children of men.”

4For a thousand years in Your sight
         Are like yesterday when it passes by,
         Or as a watch in the night.

5You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;
         In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

6In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;
         Toward evening it fades and withers away.

7For we have been consumed by Your anger
         And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.

8You have placed our iniquities before You,
         Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

9For all our days have declined in Your fury;
         We have finished our years like a sigh.

10As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
         Or if due to strength, eighty years,
         Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
         For soon it is gone and we fly away.

11Who understands the power of Your anger
         And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?

12So teach us to number our days,
         That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

13Do return, O LORD; how long will it be?
         And be sorry for Your servants.

14O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,
         That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us,
         And the years we have seen evil.

16Let Your work appear to Your servants
         And Your majesty to their children.

17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
         And confirm for us the work of our hands;
         Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

NASB ©1995