God Is Eternal
Study note
God has been his people's dwelling place through every generation. Before the mountains existed, God was God. A thousand years are like a single day to him. Human life is like grass that springs up in the morning and withers by evening.
1 Lord, you have been our safe place to call home in every generation. LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Long before the mountains were there, you formed the earth and the world. From the start of time to the end and beyond, you have been God. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3 You turn people back into dust, saying, "Go back to where you came from, children of the earth." Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
4 A thousand years to you are like yesterday once it is over. They are like a few short hours in the night. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
5 You wash people away like a sudden flood. Their lives are no more than a dream. They are like grass that pops up in the morning -- Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
6 fresh and green at sunrise, but by the time evening comes, it has wilted and dried up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
Life Under God's Anger
Study note
Moses acknowledges that our sins are exposed before God. Our years pass quickly and are full of trouble. The famous verse asks God to teach us to number our days so we may gain a heart of wisdom.
7 Your anger wears us down. Your fury leaves us shaking. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8 You have spread out our wrongdoings before you. Our hidden sins sit in the full brightness of your gaze. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9 All our days slip away under the weight of your displeasure. Our years come to an end as quietly as a sigh. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10 We might live seventy years, or maybe eighty if we are strong. But even the best of those years are full of hard work and heartache. They fly by quickly, and then we are gone. The 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.
11 Who truly grasps how fierce your anger truly is? Your fury matches the deep respect you deserve. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
A Prayer for God's Favor
Study note
Moses asks God to relent and have compassion. He asks for joy to replace the years of suffering. Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us and establish the work of our hands.
13 Turn back to us, Lord! How long must we wait? Have pity on the people who serve you. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
14 Every morning, fill us up with your loyal love so we can sing for joy and be happy for the rest of our lives. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Give us as many happy days as the sad days you allowed, as many good years as the hard years we have known. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
16 Let your servants see what you are doing. Let their children catch a glimpse of your glory. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
17 May the kindness of the Lord our God rest on us. Make the work we do with our hands count for something. Yes, Lord, make the work of our hands last. And 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.