Psalms

¹ Lord, You have been our dwelling place

through all generations.

² Before the mountains were born

or You brought forth the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting

You are God.

³ You return man to dust,

saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”

⁴ For in Your sight a thousand years

are but a day that passes, ^[a]

or a watch of the night.

⁵ You whisk them away in their sleep;

they are like the new grass of the morning—

⁶ in the morning it springs up new,

but by evening it fades and withers.

⁷ For we are consumed by Your anger

and terrified by Your wrath.

⁸ You have set our iniquities before You,

our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

⁹ For all our days decline in Your fury;

we finish our years with a sigh.

¹⁰ The length of our days is seventy years—

or eighty if we are strong—

yet their pride is but labor and sorrow,

for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

¹¹ Who knows the power of Your anger?

Your wrath matches the fear You are due.

¹² So teach us to number our days,

that we may present a heart of wisdom.

¹³ Return, O LORD! How long will it be?

Have compassion on Your servants.

¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us,

for as many years as we have seen evil.

¹⁶ May Your work be shown to Your servants,

and Your splendor to their children.

¹⁷ May the favor ^[b] of the Lord our God rest upon us;

establish for us the work of our hands—

yes, establish the work of our hands!