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¹ Lord, thou hast been our refuge in all generations. ² Before the mountains existed, and before the earth and the world were formed, even from age to age, Thou art. ³ Turn not man back to his low place, whereas thou saidst, Return, ye sons of men? ⁴ For a thousand years in thy sight are as the yesterday which is past, and as a watch in the night. ⁵ Years shall be vanity to them: let the morning pass away as grass. ⁶ In the morning let it flower, and pass away: in the evening let it droop, let it be withered and dried up.

⁷ For we have perished in thine anger, and in thy wrath we have been troubled. ⁸ Thou hast set our transgressions before thee: our age is in the light of thy countenance. ⁹ For all our days are gone, and we have passed away in thy wrath: our years have spun out their tale as a spider. ¹⁰ As for the days of our years, in them are seventy years; and if men should be in strength, eighty years: and the greater part of them would be labour and trouble; for weakness overtakes us, and we shall be chastened. ¹¹ Who knows the power of thy wrath?

¹² and who knows how to number his days because of the fear of thy wrath? So manifest thy right hand, and those that are instructed in wisdom in the heart. ¹³ Return, O Lord, how long? and be intreated concerning thy servants. ¹⁴ We have been satisfied in the morning with thy mercy; and we did exult and rejoice: ¹⁵ let us rejoice in all our days, in return for the days wherein thou didst afflict us, the years wherein we saw evil. ¹⁶ And look upon thy servants, and upon thy works; and guide their children. ¹⁷ And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and do thou direct for us the works of our hands.