Read the Bible

¹ Our Lord, in all generations
    you have been our home.
² You have always been God—
    long before the birth
    of the mountains,
    even before you created
    the earth and the world.

³ At your command we die
    and turn back to dust,
⁴     but a thousand years
    mean nothing to you!
They are merely a day gone by
    or a few hours in the night.

⁵ You bring our lives to an end
    just like a dream.
We are merely tender grass
⁶     that sprouts and grows
in the morning,
    but dries up by evening.
⁷ Your furious anger frightens
    and destroys us,
⁸ and you know all of our sins,
    even those we do in secret.

⁹ Your anger is a burden
each day we live,
    then life ends like a sigh.
¹⁰ We can expect seventy years,
or maybe eighty,
    if we are healthy,
    but even our best years
    bring trouble and sorrow.
Suddenly our time is up,
    and we disappear.
¹¹ No one knows the full power
    of your furious anger,
    but it is as great as the fear
    that we owe to you.
¹² Teach us to use wisely
    all the time we have.

¹³ Help us, Lord! Don't wait!
    Pity your servants.
¹⁴ When morning comes,
    let your love satisfy
    all our needs.
Then we can celebrate
    and be glad for what time
    we have left.
¹⁵ Make us happy for as long
    as you caused us trouble
    and sorrow.
¹⁶ Do wonderful things for us,
    your servants,
    and show your mighty power
    to our children.
¹⁷ Our Lord and our God,
    treat us with kindness
    and let all go well for us.
    Please let all go well!