[1] Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! [2] Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. [3] You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals!" [4] For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. [5] You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. [6] In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. [7] We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury. [8] You spread out our sins before you- our secret sins-and you see them all. [9] We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan. [10] Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. [11] Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. [12] Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. [13] O LORD, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! [14] Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. [15] Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. [16] Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. [17] And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
