1.
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Title. A Prayer. Hebrew. Tephillah. See App-63 .
Moses: the man of the wilderness. Hence the wilderness, and works of creation, referred to.
the man of God. See App-49 . There are seven specially so called: Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1 ); Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6-10 ; Compare Psalms 90:14 ); David (Nehemiah 12:24 ); Elijah (1 Kings 17:18 ); Elisha (2 Kings 4:7 ); Shemaiah (2 Chronicles 11:2 ); Igdaliah (Jeremiah 35:4 ); and four unnamed (1 Samuel 2:27 . 1 Kings 13:1 ; 1 Kings 20:28 . 2 Chronicles 25:7 ).
God. Hebrew. Elohim. with Art.): i.e. the true God. App-4 .
Lord*. Hebrew Adonai. App-4 . = The Lord specially in relation to the earth. This is why this fourth book commences with this title, denoting the Sovereign Lord.
dwelling place = habitation, or refuge.
2.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Or. = Ere. Positive, not comparative. Anglo-Saxon aer, from which we have our modern "ere"; found formerly as "er", "ear", and "yer". In Authorized Version, 1611, Numbers 11:33 read "yer it was chewed".
the world = the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel.
art: or wast.
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
3.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
man = mortal man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
Return. Either to dust; or, in resurrection.
children of men = sons of Adam (singular) See App-14 .
4.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
a thousand years. Compare 2 Peter 3:8 .
5.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
6.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
7.
For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
iniquities. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .
secret. Hebrew is singular; hence we cannot supply "sins" but "[sin]". But some codices, with two early printed editions, read "secrets" (plural)
9.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
are passed away = have declined, or ended.
a tale that is told = a thought, or a sigh.
10.
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.
our: i.e. Moses, and those of whom he writes.
threescore years and ten. This refers to the length of life in the wilderness in the time of Moses, which must have been shortened specially, so that the adults died off within the forty years. The "days" were, and could thus be, actually "numbered", as stated in Psalms 90:12 ; and in a way they could not have been since then. See notes on p. 809.
strength. Hebrew, plural, meaning great strength (i.e. vigour, or strength for activity). Hebrew. gabar. Compare App-14 .
their strength = their violence (i.e. strength for aggression). Hebrew. rahab . See notes on p. 809.
and we fly away. Figure of speech Euphemy, for dying. App-6 .
11.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
power. Hebrew. 'oz. Spelled with Ayin (') here, but ' az (with Aleph) in Psalms 76:7 . See note on Isaiah 11:4 .
12.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
number our days. See note on "threescore", Psalms 90:10 , above.
That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom = That we may bring home a heart of wisdom.
13.
Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Return. Same word as Psalms 90:3 .
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
how long. Supply Ellipsis: "how long [shall we wait for Thy return]? "
14.
O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
early = in the morning.
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
15.
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
according to the days . . . years: i.e. the forty years in the wilderness.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .
16.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
17.
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.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .