1 BOOK IV. A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling-place In all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or you had ever formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

3 You turn common man to destruction, And say, Return, you{+} sons of man.

4 For a thousand years in your sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.

5 You carry them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: In the morning they are like grass which grows up.

6 In the morning it flourishes, and grows up; In the evening it is cut down, and withers.

7 For we are consumed in your anger, And in your wrath are we troubled.

8 You have set our iniquities before you, Our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

9 For all our days are passed away in your wrath: We bring our years to an end as a sigh.

10 The days of our years are seventy years, Or even by reason of strength eighty years; Yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; For it is soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who knows the power of your anger, And your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?

12 So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Yahweh; how long? And let it repent you concerning your slaves.

14 Oh satisfy us in the morning with your loving-kindness, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad according to the days in which you have afflicted us, And the years in which we have seen evil.

16 Let your work appear to your slaves, And your glory on their sons.

17 And let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; And establish the work of our hands on us; Yes, the work of our hands establish it.