Teach Us to Number Our Days Aright

Book Four

From Everlasting to Everlasting

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

¹Lord, you have been our dwelling place1

in all generations.

²Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³You return man to dust

and say, “Return, O children of man!”2

⁴For a thousand years in your sight

are but as yesterday when it is past,

or as a watch in the night.

⁵You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,

like grass that is renewed in the morning:

⁶in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;

in the evening it fades and withers.

⁷For we are brought to an end by your anger;

by your wrath we are dismayed.

⁸You have set our iniquities before you,

our secret sins in the light of your presence.

⁹For all our days pass away under your wrath;

we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

¹⁰The years of our life are seventy,

or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span3 is but toil and trouble;

they are soon gone, and we fly away.

¹¹Who considers the power of your anger,

and your wrath according to the fear of you?

¹²So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

¹³Return, O Lord! How long?

Have pity on your servants!

¹⁴Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

¹⁵Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

and for as many years as we have seen evil.

¹⁶Let your work be shown to your servants,

and your glorious power to their children.

¹⁷Let the favor4 of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands upon us;

yes, establish the work of our hands!