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God's Eternity and the Brevity of Human Life.

¹ Lord, You have been our ^(F1)(C1)dwelling place in all generations.

² Before ^(C1)the mountains were born
^(F1)Or You ^(C2)gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even ^(C3)from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

³ You ^(C1)turn mortals back into dust
And say, "Return, you sons of mankind."

⁴ For ^(C1)a thousand years in Your sight
Are like ^(C2)yesterday when it passes by,
^(F1)Or like a ^(C3)watch in the night.

⁵ You ^(C1)have ^(F1)swept them away like a flood, they ^(F2)(C2)fall asleep;
In the morning they are like ^(C3)grass that ^(F3)sprouts anew.

⁶ In the morning it ^(C1)flourishes and ^(F1)sprouts anew;
Toward evening it ^(C2)wilts and ^(C3)withers away.

⁷ For we have been ^(C1)consumed by Your anger,
And we have been terrified by Your wrath.

⁸ You have ^(C1)placed our guilty deeds before You,
Our ^(C2)hidden sins in the light of Your presence.

⁹ For ^(C1)all our days have dwindled away in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a ^(F1)sigh.

¹⁰ As for the days of our ^(F1)life, ^(F2)they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, ^(C1)eighty years,
Yet their pride is only ^(C2)trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we ^(C3)disappear.

¹¹ Who ^(F1)understands the ^(C1)power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the ^(C2)fear ^(F2)that is due You?

¹² So ^(C1)teach us to number our days,
That we may ^(F1)(C2)present to You a heart of wisdom.

¹³ Do ^(C1)return, LORD; ^(C2)how long will it be?
And ^(F1)be ^(C3)sorry for Your servants.

^14 (C1)Satisfy us in the morning with Your graciousness,
That we may ^(C2)sing for joy and rejoice all our days.

^15 (C1)Make us glad ^(F1)according to the days You have afflicted us,
And the ^(C2)years we have seen ^(F2)evil.

¹⁶ Let Your ^(C1)work appear to Your servants
And Your ^(C2)majesty ^(F1)to their children.

¹⁷ May the ^(C1)kindness of the Lord our God be upon us;
And ^(F1)(C2)confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, ^(F1)confirm the work of our hands.