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 by thine anger , and by 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 spend our years as a tale that is told . 10The days of our years are threescore years and ten ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years , yet is their strength labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off , and we fly away . 11Who knoweth the power of thine anger ? even according to thy fear , so is thy wrath .
A Prayer for Wisdom
12So teach us to number our days , that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom . 13Return , O LORD , how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants . 14O satisfy us early with thy mercy ; 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 unto their children . 17And let the beauty 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.