1 | <A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.> Lord, you have been our resting-place in all generations. |
2 | Before the mountains were made, before you had given birth to the earth and the world, before time was, and for ever, you are God. |
3 | You send man back to his dust; and say, Go back, you children of men. |
4 | For to you a thousand years are no more than yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night. |
5 | ... |
6 | In the morning it is green; in the evening it is cut down, and becomes dry. |
7 | We are burned up by the heat of your passion, and troubled by your wrath. |
8 | You have put our evil doings before you, our secret sins in the light of your face. |
9 | For all our days have gone by in your wrath; our years come to an end like a breath. |
10 | The measure of our life is seventy years; and if through strength it may be eighty years, its pride is only trouble and sorrow, for it comes to an end and we are quickly gone. |
11 | Who has knowledge of the power of your wrath, or who takes note of the weight of your passion? |
12 | So give us knowledge of the number of our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom. |
13 | Come back, O Lord; how long? let your purpose for your servants be changed. |
14 | In the morning give us your mercy in full measure; so that we may have joy and delight all our days. |
15 | Make us glad in reward for the days of our sorrow, and for the years in which we have seen evil. |
16 | Make your work clear to your servants, and your glory to their children. |
17 | Let the pleasure of the Lord our God be on us: O Lord, give strength to the work of our hands. |