Psalm 90

David Koyzis ©

1. Lord, from all ages you were our salvation.
   Before you formed the hills and all creation,
   You still are God from always and for ever.
   Man is returned to dust at Your good pleasure.
   To you a thousand years are but as one,
   A night now past is as an hour once gone.
   
2. Like fleeting dreams You sweep away all people;
   They are like grass: their lives--so brief and feeble-
   Blossom at dawn, by nightfall are no longer.
   We are consumed and frightened by Your anger,
   For you have brought our faults before Your sight,
   Our darkest sins are held up to Your light.
   
3. Under Your wrath our days are quickly passing,
   And all the years that we have been amassing.
   Seventy years are all we are allotted--
   Eighty perhaps, provided strength be granted--
   Yet even these are filled with sore distress,
   For who can bear Your fearful righteousness?
   
4. Teach us to know the few days we are given,
   Grant us the wisdom you bestow from heaven.
   Relent, O Lord! How long shall we be moaning?
   Pity your servants; listen to our groaning.
   Each day fill us with Your abundant grace
   That we may sing for joy before Your face.
   
5. Let all our coming days be filled with laughter;
   Put our past woes away for ever after.
   So let your servants see Your deeds of wonder,
   And may our children know Your mighty splendor.
   May Your good favor rest upon our days,
   And let our transient works proclaim Your praise.