Psalms, chapter 90

Book IV (Psalms 90.1—106.48)

In this section

Book III ends with God's people asking questions (89.46-49) and God's “chosen one” complaining and asking for help (89.50,51). The people of Israel faced a terrible crisis. Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed in 586 b.c. Many of the people, including the last in the line of kings from David's family, had been taken away into exile. Book IV seems to be organized to offer a response to this crisis. The first psalm is a prayer by Moses, who led the people out of slavery in Egypt. He was the great leader of Israel before they had a king, a temple, or a land of their own. In response to the disappearance of earthly kingship, Book IV offers the claim that God rules the world (Psalms 93; 95–99).

salm 90

(A prayer by Moses 90 Title Moses: Moses led God's people out of Egypt, received God's teaching at Mount Sinai, and led the people to the borders of their new land. But Psalm 90 was really written much later in response to the crisis of 586 b.c. By assigning Psalm 90 to Moses, the collectors of the psalms suggest that Moses' prayers of long ago will still be helpful as the people face new troubles. See the mini-article called “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,

4 but a thousand years 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 maybe 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!

Our Lord and our God, treat us with kindness and let all go well for us.

— Ps 90.17