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Psalms 90

BSB·17 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Lordאֲ‍ֽדֹנָ֗י’ăḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study →, Youאַ֭תָּה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → have beenהָיִ֥יתָhā·yî·ṯā — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → our dwelling placeמָע֣וֹןmā·‘ō·wn — den, dwelling place, habitationH4583 — Full Word Study → through allבְּדֹ֣רbə·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → generationsוָדֹֽר׃wā·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study →. 2Beforeבְּטֶ֤רֶם׀bə·ṭe·rem — before, ere, prior to, not yetH2962 — Full Word Study → the mountainsהָ֘רִ֤יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → were bornיֻלָּ֗דוּyul·lā·ḏū — to give birth, beget, or bear a childH3205 — Full Word Study → or You brought forthוַתְּח֣וֹלֵֽלwat·tə·ḥō·w·lêl — To twist, whirl, dance, writhe; to be in pain or travailH2342 — Full Word Study → the earthאֶ֣רֶץ’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → and the worldוְתֵבֵ֑לwə·ṯê·ḇêl — The inhabited earth; the worldH8398 — Full Word Study →, from everlastingוּֽמֵעוֹלָ֥םū·mê·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → everlastingע֝וֹלָ֗ם‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → Youאַתָּ֥ה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → are Godאֵֽל׃’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →. 3You returnתָּשֵׁ֣בtā·šêḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → manאֱ֭נוֹשׁ’ĕ·nō·wōš — human being, man, mortal personH582 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → dustדַּכָּ֑אdak·kā — crushed, contrite, broken in spiritH1793 — Full Word Study →, sayingוַ֝תֹּ֗אמֶרwat·tō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Returnשׁ֣וּבוּšū·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study →, O sonsבְנֵי־ḇə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of mortalsאָדָֽם׃’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →.” 4Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → in Your sightבְּֽעֵינֶ֗יךָbə·‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → a thousandאֶ֪לֶף’e·lep̄ — A thousand; a large military unit or census numberH505 — Full Word Study → yearsשָׁנִ֡יםšā·nîm — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study → are butכְּי֣וֹםkə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → a dayאֶ֭תְמוֹל’eṯ·mō·wl — previously, in times past, formerlyH865 — Full Word Study → thatכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → passesיַעֲבֹ֑רya·‘ă·ḇōr — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study →, or a watchוְאַשְׁמוּרָ֥הwə·’aš·mū·rāh — A watch, guard post, or period of night watchH821 — Full Word Study → of the nightבַלָּֽיְלָה׃ḇal·lā·yə·lāh — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study →. 5You whisk them away in their sleepשֵׁנָ֣הšê·nāh — sleep; slumber; restH8142 — Full Word Study →; they areיִהְי֑וּyih·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → like the new grassכֶּחָצִ֥ירke·ḥā·ṣîr — grass; vegetation; hayH2682 — Full Word Study → of the morningבַּ֝בֹּ֗קֶרbab·bō·qer — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study → 6in the morningבַּ֭בֹּקֶרbab·bō·qer — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study → it springs upיָצִ֣יץyā·ṣîṣ — to blossom, flourish, or shine forthH6692 — Full Word Study → newוְחָלָ֑ףwə·ḥā·lāp̄ — to pass over, pass away, changeH2498 — Full Word Study →, but by evening it fadesיְמוֹלֵ֥לyə·mō·w·lêl — to circumcise; to cut off; to destroyH4135 — Full Word Study → and withersוְיָבֵֽשׁ׃wə·yā·ḇêš — to wither, dry up, or be ashamedH3001 — Full Word Study →. 7Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → we are consumedכָלִ֥ינוּḵā·lî·nū — to finish, complete, or bring to an endH3615 — Full Word Study → by Your angerבְאַפֶּ֑ךָḇə·’ap·pe·ḵā — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study → and terrifiedנִבְהָֽלְנוּ׃niḇ·hā·lə·nū — to alarm, hasten, or act in hasteH926 — Full Word Study → by Your wrathוּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ū·ḇa·ḥă·mā·ṯə·ḵā — Intense rage, burning wrath, divine angerH2534 — Full Word Study →. 8You have setשַׁתָּša·tå̄ — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → our iniquitiesעֲוֺנֹתֵ֣ינוּ‘ă·wō·nō·ṯê·nū — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → before Youלְנֶגְדֶּ֑ךָlə·neḡ·de·ḵā — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study →, our secret sins in the lightלִמְא֥וֹרlim·’ō·wr — luminous body or light-giving sourceH3974 — Full Word Study → of Your presenceפָּנֶֽיךָ׃pā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. 9Forכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → allכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → our daysיָ֭מֵינוּyā·mê·nū — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → declineפָּנ֣וּpā·nū — to turn, face, or direct attentionH6437 — Full Word Study → in Your furyבְעֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָḇə·‘eḇ·rā·ṯe·ḵā — Fury, rage, intense angerH5678 — Full Word Study →; we finishכִּלִּ֖ינוּkil·lî·nū — to finish, complete, or bring to an endH3615 — Full Word Study → our yearsשָׁנֵ֣ינוּšā·nê·nū — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study → withכְמוֹ־ḵə·mōw- — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study → a sighהֶֽגֶה׃he·ḡeh — A low murmuring sound, moaning, or mutteringH1899 — Full Word Study →. 10The length of our daysיְמֵֽי־yə·mê- — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → is seventyשִׁבְעִ֪יםšiḇ·‘îm — The number seventy; multiples of sevenH7657 — Full Word Study → yearsשָׁנָ֡הšā·nāh — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study →or eightyשְׁמ֘וֹנִ֤יםšə·mō·w·nîm — The number eighty; fourscoreH8084 — Full Word Study → if we are strongוְאִ֤םwə·’im — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study →yet their prideוְ֭רָהְבָּםwə·rā·hə·bām — Pride, arrogance, or self-exaltationH7296 — Full Word Study → is but laborעָמָ֣ל‘ā·māl — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → and sorrowוָאָ֑וֶןwā·’ā·wen — Evil, wickedness, iniquity, or worthlessnessH205 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → they quicklyחִ֝֗ישׁḥîš — quickly, speedily, hastilyH2440 — Full Word Study → passגָ֥זḡāz — to cut off, shear, or divideH1468 — Full Word Study →, and we fly awayוַנָּעֻֽפָה׃wan·nā·‘u·p̄āh — to fly; to faint or grow wearyH5774 — Full Word Study →. 11Whoמִֽי־mî- — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → knowsי֭וֹדֵעַyō·w·ḏê·a‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → the powerעֹ֣ז‘ōz — Strength, power, or mightH5797 — Full Word Study → of Your angerאַפֶּ֑ךָ’ap·pe·ḵā — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study →? Your wrathעֶבְרָתֶֽךָ׃‘eḇ·rā·ṯe·ḵā — Fury, rage, intense angerH5678 — Full Word Study → matches the fear You are dueוּ֝כְיִרְאָתְךָ֗ū·ḵə·yir·’ā·ṯə·ḵā — Fear, reverence, dread, or aweH3374 — Full Word Study →. 12Soכֵּ֣ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → teach usהוֹדַ֑עhō·w·ḏa‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → to numberלִמְנ֣וֹתlim·nō·wṯ — To count, number, appoint, or ordainH4487 — Full Word Study → our daysיָ֭מֵינוּyā·mê·nū — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →, that we may presentוְ֝נָבִ֗אwə·nā·ḇi — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → a heartלְבַ֣בlə·ḇaḇ — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study → of wisdomחָכְמָֽה׃ḥāḵ·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study →. 13Returnשׁוּבָ֣הšū·ḇāh — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →! How long will it beעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study →? Have compassionוְ֝הִנָּחֵ֗םwə·hin·nā·ḥêm — to comfort, console, or show compassion; to repent or change one's mindH5162 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Your servantsעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study →. 14Satisfy usשַׂבְּעֵ֣נוּśab·bə·‘ê·nū — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → in the morningבַבֹּ֣קֶרḇab·bō·qer — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study → with Your loving devotionחַסְדֶּ֑ךָḥas·de·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study →, that we may sing for joyוּֽנְרַנְּנָ֥הū·nə·ran·nə·nāh — To shout or sing aloud with joy; to cry out triumphantlyH7442 — Full Word Study → and be gladוְ֝נִשְׂמְחָ֗הwə·niś·mə·ḥāh — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → allבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → our daysיָמֵֽינוּ׃yā·mê·nū — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →. 15Make us gladשַׂ֭מְּחֵנוּśam·mə·ḥē·nû — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → for as many daysכִּימ֣וֹתkî·mō·wṯ — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → as You have afflicted usעִנִּיתָ֑נוּ‘in·nî·ṯā·nū — To afflict, humble, or oppress; to treat harshlyH6031 — Full Word Study →, for as many yearsשְׁ֝נ֗וֹתšə·nôt̲ — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study → as we have seenרָאִ֥ינוּrā·’î·nū — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → evilרָעָֽה׃rā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →. 16May Your workפָעֳלֶ֑ךָp̄ā·‘o·le·ḵā — work, deed, or actionH6467 — Full Word Study → be shownיֵרָאֶ֣הyê·rā·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → Your servantsעֲבָדֶ֣יךָ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study →, and Your splendorוַ֝הֲדָרְךָ֗wa·hă·ḏā·rə·ḵā — Glory, majesty, splendor, honorH1926 — Full Word Study → toעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → their childrenבְּנֵיהֶֽם׃bə·nê·hem — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →. 17May the favorנֹ֤עַםnō·‘am — Pleasantness, beauty, grace, or charmH5278 — Full Word Study → of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י’ă·ḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study → our Godאֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → restוִיהִ֤י׀wî·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → upon usעָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ‘ā·lê·nū — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →; establishכּוֹנְנָ֥הkō·wn·nāh — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → for usעָלֵ֑ינוּ‘ā·lê·nū — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the workוּמַעֲשֵׂ֣הū·ma·‘ă·śêh — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of our handsיָ֭דֵינוּyā·ḏê·nū — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →yes, establishכּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃kō·wn·nê·hū — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → the workוּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥הū·ma·‘ă·śêh — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of our handsיָ֝דֵ֗ינוּyā·ḏê·nū — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →!
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 90
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 90 is the only psalm attributed to Moses, and it stands as a meditation on human mortality and God's eternal nature. The psalm opens with a declaration of God's timelessness and power, then moves into a sobering reflection on the brevity of human life and the consequences of sin. Despite this serious tone, the psalm concludes with earnest prayers for God's mercy, compassion, and blessing. This is a psalm that calls believers to wisdom, repentance, and dependence upon God's grace in the face of our human frailty.

Verses 1-2: God's Eternal Dwelling Place

The psalm begins with a powerful affirmation: "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations." This declares that God Himself—not a physical location—has been the refuge and security of God's people throughout history. Before creating the mountains and the earth, and extending into eternity future, God alone exists as the changeless, eternal foundation of our lives. The contrast is striking: all creation has a beginning, but God is "from everlasting to everlasting." This foundational truth reminds us that our trust should not rest in material things or earthly security, but in the character and presence of God alone.

Verses 3-6: The Brevity of Human Life

Moses now turns to the human condition. Verse 3 reminds us that God commands our return to dust—death is not an accident but part of God's design. Verse 4 offers a striking perspective: in God's eternal sight, a thousand years pass like a single day. This isn't meant to diminish human significance, but to place our short lives in proper perspective. Verses 5-6 use vivid imagery: we are carried away like a flood, we sleep only to awaken to decay, like grass that flourishes in the morning only to be cut down by evening. The point is clear: human life is temporary, and without God's mercy, we face only dissolution and death.

Verses 7-10: Living Under God's Judgment

Here the psalm becomes more personal and convicting. Our days are spent in God's wrath because of our sinfulness. Verse 8 is particularly sobering: "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance." Nothing is hidden from God; He sees all our transgression. Our years pass away like a story being told—swift and ultimately forgotten. Verses 9-10 state plainly that a human lifespan, whether seventy or eighty years, is brief, filled with labor and sorrow, and then we are gone. This is not pessimism but biblical realism about human mortality and sinfulness.

Verses 11-17: The Prayer for Mercy and Restoration

The psalm shifts toward prayer and petition. Verse 12 contains the turning point: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." True wisdom comes from acknowledging our mortality and God's judgment. Rather than despairing, Moses pleads for God's return and compassion (verse 13), asking that God's early mercy satisfy His people so they may rejoice (verse 14). The final verses (15-17) ask that God restore joy equal to the affliction previously endured, that His work and glory be visible, and that He establish and bless the works of our hands. The prayer ends not in defeat but in confident petition for divine favor.

Application for Today

Psalm 90 calls modern believers to honest self-assessment: our lives are brief, our sin is real, and judgment is certain. Yet this recognition is not meant to paralyze us but to redirect our trust. When we truly number our days and recognize our dependence on God's eternal mercy, we gain wisdom for living. We shift from chasing temporary pursuits to seeking God's presence, embracing repentance, and asking that He establish the work of our hands with His blessing. In Christ, who bore our judgment and rose in victory, we find the mercy this psalm earnestly seeks.

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