1Lord, through every generation, you have been “home” for us!

2Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the universe, from eternity past to eternity future, you are God.

3You turn people back into dust, saying, “Return to dust, human beings.”

4In your eyes, a thousand years are like a day that's already gone; like a few passing hours of the night.

5You bring people's lives to a sudden end, like dreams that vanish. They are like grass that grows up in the morning—

6it sprouts in the morning, fresh and new, but by the evening it is withered and dead.

7We are burned up by your anger, terrified by your fury.

8You have set out our sins before you—our secret sins are visible in the light of your presence.

9Our lives fade away under your anger, coming to an end as quickly as a sigh.

10We live for seventy years—eighty if we have the strength. But even in the prime of life all that we have is hardship and suffering. Soon our lives are over and we're gone.

11Who can know the power of your anger? Who understands your fury so you can be shown reverence?

12Teach us to value every one of our days so we can live wisely!

13Lord, how long will it be before you come back to us and have pity on us your servants?

14Show us every morning your trustworthy love so we may be happy, full of joy throughout our lives.

15Make us glad for as many days as you made us sad, for all the years we suffered!

16May we, your servants, see you at work for us ³²⁵again; may our children see your glory.

17May our Lord God be pleased with us, blessing what we do, blessing what we do.