Study Desk

BOOK IV

Psalms 90–106

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place^(a) throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born^(b) or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting^(c) you are God.^(d)

You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals."^(e)

A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.^(f)

Yet you sweep people away^(g) in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning:

In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.^(h)

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins⁽ⁱ⁾ in the light of your presence.^(j)

All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.^(k)

Our days may come to seventy years,^(l) or eighty,^(m) if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,⁽ⁿ⁾ for they quickly pass, and we fly away.^(o)

If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath^(p) is as great as the fear that is your due.^(q)

Teach us to number our days,^(r) that we may gain a heart of wisdom.^(s)

Relent, Lord ! How long^(t) will it be? Have compassion on your servants.^(u)

Satisfy^(v) us in the morning with your unfailing love,^(w) that we may sing for joy^(x) and be glad all our days.^(y)

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.^(z)

May the favor^[a] of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.^(aa)

Whoever dwells in the shelter^(a) of the Most High will rest in the shadow^(b) of the Almighty.^[a]

I will say of the Lord , "He is my refuge^(c) and my fortress,^(d) my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare^(e) and from the deadly pestilence.^(f)

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;^(g) his faithfulness will be your shield^(h) and rampart.

You will not fear⁽ⁱ⁾ the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.^(j)

If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling,

no harm^(k) will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels^(l) concerning you to guard you in all your ways;^(m)

they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.⁽ⁿ⁾

You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.^(o)

"Because he^[b] loves me," says the Lord , "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.^(p)

With long life^(q) I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.^(r)"

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.

It is good to praise the Lord and make music^(a) to your name,^(b) O Most High,^(c)

proclaiming your love in the morning^(d) and your faithfulness at night,

to the music of the ten-stringed lyre^(e) and the melody of the harp.^(f)

For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord ; I sing for joy^(g) at what your hands have done.^(h)

How great are your works,⁽ⁱ⁾ Lord , how profound your thoughts!^(j)

Senseless people^(k) do not know, fools do not understand,

that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.^(l)

But you, Lord , are forever exalted.

For surely your enemies^(m), Lord , surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.⁽ⁿ⁾

You have exalted my horn^[b](o) like that of a wild ox;^(p) fine oils^(q) have been poured on me.

My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.^(r)

The righteous will flourish^(s) like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;^(t)

planted in the house of the Lord , they will flourish in the courts of our God.^(u)

They will still bear fruit^(v) in old age, they will stay fresh and green,

proclaiming, "The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.^(w)"