Psalm XC.
1
Thou hast, O Lord, from age to age,
Our place of refuge been:
From everlasting thou art God,
Before the world was seen.
2
And unto all eternity,
Thou do'st the same remain:
Though man decays, and as one dies,
Another comes again.
3
For in thy sight a thousand years
Are but as yesterday:
Or as a watch, that in the night
Is quickly past away.
4
Our life is like the sliding floods,
Or dreams that vanish quite:
Or grass that in the morning grows,
And is cut down at night.
5
For by thy wrath we are consum'd,
Who all our sins dost see:
And what in secret we commit,
Is open, Lord to thee.
6
From hence alone it comes to pass,
That we so soon decay:
And as a tale is quickly told,
We pass our years away.
7
For seventy years accounted are,
The age of man to be:
Or if some stronger than the rest,
Full fourscore years should see.
8
Yet even these with all their strength,
Endure such misery;
That oft their life a burden is,
And they at last must die.
9
But, Lord, the power of thy wrath,
What man doth lay to heart?
Or who is he that ponders well,
How terrible thou art?
10
Lord, teach us so to count our days,
And lifes uncertainty;
That wisely to improve our time,
We may our hearts apply.
11
Return, O Lord; how long wilt thou
Afflict thy servants thus?
Have pity, Lord upon our case,
And hast to comfort us.
12
That we who have afflicted been,
So many years before,
May now be joyful all our days,
And evil see no more.
13
Lord, cause thy servants to behold
What works thy hand can do:
And to their children after them,
Thy glorious wonders show.
14
And with thy favour evermore.
Our undertakings bless:
That what we go about to do,
May never want success.
