Psalm 90

W. van der Kamp, 1972; rev.

1. LORD, Thou hast been since Thou didst shape creation
   Our dwelling place in ev’ry generation.
   Before the mountains were brought forth and grounded,
   And Thou the earth and world hadst formed and founded,
   From everlasting stands Thy holy throne;
   To everlasting Thou art God a lone.
   
2. What is our worth when Thou Thy help delayest?
   Thou turnest man back to the dust and sayest,
   “Turn back, O sons of man,” and thus we perish.
   Brief is our life, and vain the things we cherish.
   A thousand of our years are in Thy sight
   A day gone by, a watch gone with the night.
   
3. Thou sweepest men away, vain in their glory,
   For they are like a fleeting dream before Thee,
   Like grass which springs up in the early morning,
   Like flowers for a while the earth adorning
   That with the dawn unfold on hill and glade:
   By evening time they wither and they fade.
   
4. For we are all consumed by Thy great anger,
   And in dismay we’ve seen Thy fury linger.
   Thou settest our iniquities before Thee.
   Thy light reveals our secret sins most surely,
   For in Thy wrath do all our days go by;
   Our years come to their ending with a sigh.
   
5. Three score and ten are all the years allowed us,
   And fourscore when Thou hast with strength endowed us.
   Soon they are gone, their best is toil and trouble.
   We fly away, our labors worthless stubble.
   Who understands the power of Thy wrath,
   When Thy great vengeance meets us on our path?
   
6. Who understands the woes of all who fear Thee?
   Why burns Thy wrath against those who revere Thee?
   We pass our years in fear and fitful slumber;
   Teach us that we our span of days may number,
   So that our hearts gain wisdom. LORD, return!
   How long? Have pity! For Thy love we yearn.
   
7. LORD, in the morning come and satisfy us,
   With steadfast love and with Thy blessings ply us
   So that we may rejoice and sing with gladness
   As many days as we have mourned in sadness,
   As many years as evil we have seen,
   That after grief we times of joy may glean.
   
8. Show forth Thy work to all who serve before Thee,
   And to Thy children show Thy power and glory.
   May He, the LORD, our gracious God and Savior,
   Shed on us all the riches of His favor.
   Establish Thou the labors of our hand;
   Establish them, that to Thy praise they stand.