Psalm 90 (Tate & Brady)

1 O Lord the savior and defense

of us thy chosen race,

From age to age thou still hast been

our sure abiding place.

2 Before thou brought'st the mountains forth,

or th' earth and world didst frame,

Thou always were the mighty God,

and ever art the same.

3 Thou turnest man, O Lord, to dust,

of which he first was made;

And when thou speak'st the word, "Return,"

'tis instantly obey'd.

4 For in thy sight a thousand years

are like a day that's past,

Or like a watch in dead of night,

whose hours un-minded waste.

5 Thou sweep'st us off as with a flood,

we vanish hence like dreams;

At first we grow like grass that feels

the sun's reviving beams:

6 But howsoever fresh and fair

its morning beauty shows;

'Tis all cut down and withered quite

before the ev'ning close.

7,8 We by thine anger are consumed,

and by thy wrath dismayed:

Our public crimes and secret sins

before thy sight are laid.

9 Beneath thy anger's sad effects

our drooping days we spend;

Our un-regarded years break off,

like tales that quickly end.

10 Our term of life is seventy years,

an age that few survive;

But if, with more than common strength,

to eighty we arrive;

Yet then our boasted strength decays,

to sorrow turned, and pain:

So soon the slender thread is cut,

and we no more remain.

The Second Part.

11 But who thy anger's dread effects

does, as he ought, revere?

And yet thy wrath does fall or rise,

as more or less we fear.

12 So teach us, Lord, th' uncertain sum

of our short days to mind,

That to true wisdom all our hearts

may ever be inclined.

13 O to thy servants, Lord, return,

and speedily relent!

As we of our misdeeds, do thou

of our just doom repent.

14 To satisfy and cheer our souls

thy early mercy send;

That we may all our days to come

in joy and comfort spend.

15 Let happy times, with large amends,

dry up our former tears,

Or equal at tile least the term

of our afflicted years.

16 To all thy servants, Lord, let this

thy wondrous work be known,

And to our offspring yet unborn

thy glorious pow'r be shown.

17 Let thy bright rays upon us shine;

give thou our work success:

The glorious work we have in hand

do thou vouchsafe to bless.