A prayer by God’s man Mosheh (Moses).

1 My master, you’ve been our protection

throughout all generations.

2 Before the mountains were formed or you formed the earth and the world,

from the entire past through to all the future, you are God.

3 You return man to dust,

and you say, “Return, you descendants of humanity,”

4 because a thousand years in your sight

are just like yesterday when it’s over,

≈ and like a watch of several hours in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood and they sleep.

In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up:

6 In the morning it blooms and grows up,

but by the evening, it has withered and dried up.

7 Certainly we’re consumed in your anger,

≈ and in your rage we’re terrified.

8 You’ve placed our disobedience in front of you—

≈ our hidden sins in the light of your presence,

9 because our life passes away under your rage—

our years pass quickly like a sigh does.

10 We might reach the age of seventy,

or even eighty if we’re healthy,

but even our best years are marked by trouble and sorrow.

Yes, they pass quickly, then we ‘fly away’.

11 Who knows the intensity of your anger,

and your rage that’s equal to the respect that we should have had for you?

12 So teach us to consider the fragility of our lives

so that we might live wisely.

13 Turn back, Yahweh.

How long will this last?

Have pity on your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal commitment

so that we can celebrate and be glad for the rest of our lives.

15 Make us glad in proportion to the days you made us suffer,

and to the years we have experienced trouble.

16 Let your servants see your actions,

and let our children see your splendour.

17 May the favour of my master God be ours.

Prosper the work of our hands.

Yes, prosper the work that we do.