A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 O LORD, thou hast been unto us
from generation,
to generation, a place
of fixed mansion.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
ere earth and world be thee
were form’d: thou are eternally
God to eternity.
3 Thou dost unto destruction
turn miserable men:
and then thou say’st ye sons of men
do ye return again.
4 For why o Lord, a thousand years
are but within thy sight
as yesterday when it is past:
and as a watch by night.
5 By thee like as it were a flood
they quite away are borne,
they like a sleep, and as the grass
that grows up in the morn.
6 It in the morning flourisheth,
it also up doth grow;
it in the ev’ning is cut down
it withereth also.
7 Because we by thine anger are
consumed speedily:
and by thy sore displeasure we
are troubled suddenly.
8 Thou hast set our iniquities
before thee in thy sight:
our secret evils are within
thy countenances light.
9 Because in thine exceeding wrath
our days all pass away:
our years we have consumed quite,
ev’n as a tale are they.
(2)
10 Threescore and ten years are the days
of our years which remain,
and if through strength they fourscore be,
their strength is grief and pain:
For it’s cut off soon, and we fly
11 away: Who is’t doth know
thine angers strength? according as
thy fear, thy wrath is so.
12 Teach us to count our days: our hearts
so we’ll on wisdom set.
13 Turn Lord, how long? of thy servants
let it repent thee yet?
14 O give us satisfaction
betimes with thy mercy:
that so rejoice, and be right glad,
through all our days may we.
15 According to the days wherein
affliction we have had,
and years wherein we have seen ill,
now also make us glad.
16 Unto those that thy servants be
do thou thy work declare:
also thy comely glory to
those that thy children are.
17 Let our Gods beauty be on us,
our handy works also
stablish on us; our handy work
establish it do thou.