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Christian prayer

Psalm 90

Psalm 90 in its original text and with its meaning, reflecting on human frailty and God's enduring presence.

  • 17 verses
  • About 1 minute to recite
  • From the Bible

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  1. 1

    תְּפִלָּה֮ לְמֹשֶׁ֪ה אִֽישׁ־הָאֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים אֲֽדֹנָ֗י מָע֣וֹן אַ֭תָּה הָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֗נוּ בְּדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃

    A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

  2. 2

    בְּטֶ֤רֶם ׀ הָ֘רִ֤ים יֻלָּ֗דוּ וַתְּח֣וֹלֵֽל אֶ֣רֶץ וְתֵבֵ֑ל וּֽמֵעוֹלָ֥ם עַד־ע֝וֹלָ֗ם אַתָּ֥ה אֵֽל׃

    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

  3. 3

    תָּשֵׁ֣ב אֱ֭נוֹשׁ עַד־דַּכָּ֑א וַ֝תֹּ֗אמֶר שׁ֣וּבוּ בְנֵי־אָדָֽם׃

    Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

  4. 4

    כִּ֤י אֶ֪לֶף שָׁנִ֡ים בְּֽעֵינֶ֗יךָ כְּי֣וֹם אֶ֭תְמוֹל כִּ֣י יַעֲבֹ֑ר וְאַשְׁמוּרָ֥ה בַלָּֽיְלָה׃

    For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

  5. 5

    זְ֭רַמְתָּם שֵׁנָ֣ה יִהְי֑וּ בַּ֝בֹּ֗קֶר כֶּחָצִ֥יר יַחֲלֹֽף׃

    Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

  6. 6

    בַּ֭בֹּקֶר יָצִ֣יץ וְחָלָ֑ף לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב יְמוֹלֵ֥ל וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃

    In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

  7. 7

    כִּֽי־כָלִ֥ינוּ בְאַפֶּ֑ךָ וּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ נִבְהָֽלְנוּ׃

    For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

  8. 8

    שת עֲוֺנֹתֵ֣ינוּ לְנֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ עֲ֝לֻמֵ֗נוּ לִמְא֥וֹר פָּנֶֽיךָ׃

    Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

  9. 9

    כִּ֣י כָל־יָ֭מֵינוּ פָּנ֣וּ בְעֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּלִּ֖ינוּ שָׁנֵ֣ינוּ כְמוֹ־הֶֽגֶה׃

    For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

  10. 10

    יְמֵֽי־שְׁנוֹתֵ֨ינוּ בָהֶ֥ם שִׁבְעִ֪ים שָׁנָ֡ה וְאִ֤ם בִּגְבוּרֹ֨ת ׀ שְׁמ֘וֹנִ֤ים שָׁנָ֗ה וְ֭רָהְבָּם עָמָ֣ל וָאָ֑וֶן כִּי־גָ֥ז חִ֝֗ישׁ וַנָּעֻֽפָה׃

    The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

  11. 11

    מִֽי־י֭וֹדֵעַ עֹ֣ז אַפֶּ֑ךָ וּ֝כְיִרְאָתְךָ֗ עֶבְרָתֶֽךָ׃

    Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

  12. 12

    לִמְנ֣וֹת יָ֭מֵינוּ כֵּ֣ן הוֹדַ֑ע וְ֝נָבִ֗א לְבַ֣ב חָכְמָֽה׃

    So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

  13. 13

    שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה עַד־מָתָ֑י וְ֝הִנָּחֵ֗ם עַל־עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

    Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

  14. 14

    שַׂבְּעֵ֣נוּ בַבֹּ֣קֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וּֽנְרַנְּנָ֥ה וְ֝נִשְׂמְחָ֗ה בְּכָל־יָמֵֽינוּ׃

    O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

  15. 15

    שַׂ֭מְּחֵנוּ כִּימ֣וֹת עִנִּיתָ֑נוּ שְׁ֝נ֗וֹת רָאִ֥ינוּ רָעָֽה׃

    Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.

  16. 16

    יֵרָאֶ֣ה אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ פָעֳלֶ֑ךָ וַ֝הֲדָרְךָ֗ עַל־בְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

    Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

  17. 17

    וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃

    And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 90 during personal prayer, at funerals or when reflecting on the passing of time. It is also read at the beginning of a year or during times of loss. In the Christian tradition, its plea to “number our days” invites reflection on how to live wisely before God.

  • Personal prayer
  • Funerals
  • New Year
  • Times of loss

Where it comes from

Psalm 90 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible. Its heading identifies it as a prayer of Moses, the man of God, though this traditional attribution does not establish its date of composition. It contrasts God's eternity with the brevity of human life and asks for mercy, joy and lasting value in human work.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 90

How many verses does Psalm 90 have?

Psalm 90 has 17 verses.

What does Psalm 90 mean?

It reflects on God's enduring presence and the shortness of human life. Its prayer to learn to number our days asks for wisdom to live well, while its closing petitions seek mercy and God's blessing on human work.

Who wrote Psalm 90?

The psalm's heading attributes it to Moses. Its precise date and authorship are not certain.

When do Christians pray Psalm 90?

Many Christians pray it at funerals, during personal reflection or at the beginning of a year. Its themes also make it fitting for times of grief and reflection on life's purpose.

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