1 Our Lord, in all generationsyou have been our home.
2 You have always been God—long before the birthof the mountains,even before you createdthe earth and the world.
3 At your command we dieand turn back to dust,
4 but a thousand yearsmean nothing to you!They are merely a day gone byor a few hours in the night.
5 You bring our lives to an endjust like a dream.We are merely tender grass
6 that sprouts and growsin the morning,but dries up by evening.
7 Your furious anger frightensand destroys us,
8 and you know all our sins,even those we do in secret.
9 Your anger is a burdeneach 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 yearsbring trouble and sorrow.Suddenly our time is up,and we disappear.
11 No one knows the full powerof your furious anger,but it is as great as the fearthat we owe to you.
12 Teach us to use wiselyall the time we have.
13 Help us, Lord! Don't wait!Pity your servants.
14 When morning comes,let your love satisfyall our needs.Then we can celebrateand be glad for what timewe have left.
15 Make us happy for as longas you caused us troubleand sorrow.
16 Do wonderful things for us,your servants,and show your mighty powerto our children.
17 Our Lord and our God,treat us with kindnessand let all go well for us.Please let all go well!