1“BOOK IV. A prayer of Moses, the man of God.” LORD! thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations!

2Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God!

3But man thou turnest again to dust, And sayst, “Return, ye children of men!”

4For a thousand years are, in thy sight, As yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.

5Thou carriest him away as with a flood; He is a dream; In the morning he springeth up like grass,

6Which flourisheth and shooteth up in the morning, And in the evening is cut down, and withered.

7For we are consumed by thine anger, And by thy wrath are we destroyed.

8Thou settest our iniquities before thee, Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

9By reason of thine anger all our days vanish away; We spend our years like a thought.

10The days of our life are threescore years and ten, And, by reason of strength, may be fourscore years: Yet is the pride of them weariness and sorrow; For it vanisheth swiftly, and we fly away.

11Yet who attendeth to the power of thine anger? Who with due reverence regardeth thine indignation?

12Teach us so to number our days, That we may apply our hearts to wisdom!

13Desist, O LORD! How long—? Have compassion upon thy servants!

14Satisfy us speedily with thy mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

15Make us glad according to the time in which thou hast afflicted us; According to the years in which we have seen adversity!

16Let thy deeds be known to thy servants, And thy glory to their children!

17Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish for us the work of our hands; Yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it!