Book 4

(Psalms 90—106)

(A prayer by Moses, the man of God.)

God is eternal

1Our Lord, in all generations

you have been our home.

2You have always been God—

long before the birth

of the mountains,

even before you created

the earth and the world.

3At your command we die

and turn back to dust,

4but a thousand years90.4: 2 P 3.8.

mean nothing to you!

They are merely a day gone by

or a few hours in the night.

5You bring our lives to an end

just like a dream.

We are merely tender grass

6that sprouts and grows

in the morning,

but dries up by evening.

7Your furious anger frightens

and destroys us,

8and you know-all our sins,

even those we do in secret.

9Your anger is a burden

each day we live,

then life ends like a sigh.

10We can expect seventy years,

or perhaps eighty,

if we are healthy,

but even our best years

bring trouble and sorrow.

Suddenly our time is up,

and we disappear.

11No one knows the full power

of your furious anger,

but it is as great as the fear

that we owe to you.

12Teach us to use wisely

all the time we have.

13Help us, LORD! Don't wait!

Pity your servants.

14When morning comes,

let your love satisfy

all our needs.

Then we can celebrate

and be glad for what time

we have left.

15Make us happy for as long

as you caused us trouble

and sorrow.

16Do wonderful things for us,

your servants,

and show your mighty power

to our children.

17Our Lord and our God,

treat us with kindness

and let all go well for us.

Please let all go well!