A Prayer of Moses
the man
of God
. Lord
, thou hast been our dwelling place
in all
generations
.
Before the mountains were brought forth
, or ever thou hadst formed
the earth
and the world
, even from everlasting
to
everlasting
, thou art God
.
Thou turnest man
to destruction
; and sayest
, Return
, ye children
of men
.
For a thousand years
in thy sight
are but as
yesterday
when it is past
, and as a watch
in the night
.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep
: in the morning
they are like grass
which groweth up
.
In the morning it flourisheth
, and groweth up
; in the evening
it is cut down
, and withereth
.
For we are consumed by thine anger
, and by thy wrath
are we troubled
.
Thou hast set our iniquities
before thee, our secret
sins in the light
of thy countenance
.
For all our days are passed away
in thy wrath
: we spend
our years
as a tale
that is told .
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
.
Who knoweth the power
of thine anger
? even according to thy fear
, so is thy wrath
.
So teach us to number
our days
, that we may apply
our hearts
unto wisdom
.
Return, O LORD
, how long? and let it repent
thee concerning thy servants
.
O satisfy us early
with thy mercy
; that we may rejoice
and be glad
all our days
.
Make us glad according to the days
wherein thou hast afflicted
us, and the years
wherein we have seen
evil
.
Let thy work appear
unto thy servants
, and thy glory
unto their children
.
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.