1 [[A Prayer H8605 of Moses H4872 the man H376 of God.]] H430 Lord, H136 thou hast been our dwelling place H4583 in all H1755 generations. H1755
2 Before the mountains H2022 were brought forth, H3205 or ever thou hadst formed H2342 the earth H776 and the world, H8398 even from everlasting H5769 to H5704 everlasting, H5769 thou art God. H410
3 Thou turnest H7725 man H582 to destruction; H1793 and sayest, H559 Return, H7725 ye children H1121 of men. H120
4 For a thousand H505 years H8141 in thy sight H5869 are but as H3117 yesterday H865 when it is past, H5674 and as a watch H821 in the night. H3915
5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; H2229 they are as a sleep: H8142 in the morning H1242 they are like grass H2682 which groweth up. H2498
6 In the morning H1242 it flourisheth, H6692 and groweth up; H2498 in the evening H6153 it is cut down, H4135 and withereth. H3001
7 For we are consumed H3615 by thine anger, H639 and by thy wrath H2534 are we troubled. H926
8 Thou hast set H7896 our iniquities H5771 before thee, our secret H5956 sins in the light H3974 of thy countenance. H6440
9 For all our days H3117 are passed away H6437 in thy wrath: H5678 we spend H3615 our years H8141 as a tale H1899 that is told.
10 The days H3117 of our years H8141 are threescore H7657 years H8141 and ten; H7657 and if by reason of strength H1369 they be fourscore H8084 years, H8141 yet is their strength H7296 labour H5999 and sorrow; H205 for it is soon H2440 cut off, H1468 and we fly away. H5774
11 Who knoweth H3045 the power H5797 of thine anger? H639 even according to thy fear, H3374 so is thy wrath. H5678
12 So teach H3045 us to number H4487 our days, H3117 that we may apply H935 our hearts H3824 unto wisdom. H2451
13 Return, H7725 O LORD, H3068 how long? and let it repent H5162 thee concerning thy servants. H5650
14 O satisfy H7646 us early H1242 with thy mercy; H2617 that we may rejoice H7442 and be glad H8055 all our days. H3117
15 Make us glad H8055 according to the days H3117 wherein thou hast afflicted H6031 us, and the years H8141 wherein we have seen H7200 evil. H7451
16 Let thy work H6467 appear H7200 unto thy servants, H5650 and thy glory H1926 unto their children. H1121
17 And let the beauty H5278 of the LORD H3068 our God H430 be upon us: and establish H3559 thou the work H4639 of our hands H3027 upon us; yea, the work H4639 of our hands H3027 establish H3559 thou it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 90
Commentary on Psalms 90 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 90
Ps 90:1-17. Contrasting man's frailty with God's eternity, the writer mourns over it as the punishment of sin, and prays for a return of the divine favor. A Prayer [mainly such] of Moses the man of God—(De 33:1; Jos 14:6); as such he wrote this (see on Ps 18:1, title, and Ps 36:1, title).
1. dwelling-place—home (compare Eze 11:16), as a refuge (De 33:27).
2. brought forth [and] formed—both express the idea of production by birth.
3. to destruction—literally, "even to dust" (Ge 3:19), which is partly quoted in the last clause.
4. Even were our days now a thousand years, as Adam's, our life would be but a moment in God's sight (2Pe 3:8).
a watch—or, third part of a night (compare Ex 14:24).
5, 6. Life is like grass, which, though changing under the influence of the night's dew, and flourishing in the morning, is soon cut down and withereth (Ps 103:15; 1Pe 1:24).
7, 8. For—A reason, this is the infliction of God's wrath.
troubled—literally, "confounded by terror" (Ps 2:5). Death is by sin (Ro 5:12). Though "secret," the light of God's countenance, as a candle, will bring sin to view (Pr 20:27; 1Co 4:5).
9. are passed—literally, "turn," as to depart (Jer 6:4).
spend—literally, "consume."
as a tale—literally, "a thought," or, "a sigh" (Eze 2:10).
10. Moses' life was an exception (De 34:7).
it is … cut off—or, "driven," as is said of the quails in using the same word (Nu 11:31). In view of this certain and speedy end, life is full of sorrow.
11. The whole verse may be read as a question implying the negative, "No one knows what Thy anger can do, and what Thy wrath is, estimated by a true piety."
12. This he prays we may know or understand, so as properly to number or appreciate the shortness of our days, that we may be wise.
13. (Compare Ps 13:2).
let it repent—a strong figure, as in Ex 32:12, imploring a change in His dealings.
14. early—promptly.
15. As have been our sorrows, so let our joys be great and long.
16. thy work—or, providential acts.
thy glory—(Ps 8:5; 45:3), the honor accruing from Thy work of mercy to us.
17. let the beauty—or sum of His gracious acts, in their harmony, be illustrated in us, and favor our enterprise.