1Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations . 2Before the mountains were brought forth , Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world , Even from everlasting to everlasting , thou art God.
The Frailty of Man
3Thou turnest man to destruction , And sayest, Return , ye children of men . 4For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past , And as a watch in the night . 5Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; they are as a sleep : In the morning they are like grass which groweth up . 6In the morning it flourisheth , and groweth up ; In the evening it is cut down , and withereth .
The Wrath of God
7For we are consumed in thine anger , And in thy wrath are we troubled. 8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee , Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance . 9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath : We bring our years to an end as a sigh . 10The days of our years are threescore years and ten , Or even by reason of strength fourscore years ; Yet is their pride but labor and sorrow ; For it is soon gone , and we fly away . 11Who knoweth the power of thine anger , And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?
A Prayer for Wisdom
12So teach us to number our days , That we may get us a heart of wisdom . 13Return , O Jehovah ; how long ? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants . 14Oh satisfy us in the morning with thy lovingkindness , That we may rejoice and be glad all our days .
Hope in God's Mercy
15Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us , And the years wherein we have seen evil . 16Let thy work appear unto thy servants , And thy glory upon their children . 17And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us ; And establish thou the work of our hands upon us ; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it .