Chapter 89

Lord, thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation.

Before the hills came to birth, before the whole frame of the world was engendered, from eternity to eternity, O God, thou art.

And wilt thou bring man to dust again, that thou sayest, Return, children of Adam, to what you were?

In thy sight, a thousand years are but as yesterday, that has come and gone, or as one of the night-watches.

Swiftly thou bearest our lives away, as a waking dream,

or the green grass that blooms fresh with the morning; night finds it faded and dead.

Still thy anger takes toll of us, thy displeasure denies us rest,

so jealous thy scrutiny of our wrong-doing, so clear our hidden sins shew in the light of thy presence.

Day after day vanishes, and still thy anger lasts; swift as a breath our lives pass away.

What is our span of days? Seventy years it lasts, eighty years, if lusty folk we be; for the more part, toil and frustration; years that vanish in a moment, and we are gone.

Alas, that so few heed thy vengeance,

measure thy anger by the reverence we owe thee! Teach us to count every passing day, till our hearts find wisdom.

Relent, Lord; must it be for ever? Be gracious to thy servants.

For us thy timely mercies, for us abiding happiness and content;

happiness that shall atone for the time when thou didst afflict us, for the long years of ill fortune.

Let these eyes see thy purpose accomplished, to our own sons reveal thy glory;

the favour of the Lord our God smile on us! Prosper our doings, Lord, prosper our doings yet.