Psalms 90

Mose praising God for his providence and power, describeth here the weakness, misery and shortness of mans life, praying God, to teach both himself and all men the true knowledge thereof.

1. A Prayer of Mose [It is conceived that Mose uttered this prayer, when the people of Israel had sinned by murmuring, and God pronounced his judgement, that they should die in the wilderness, see Numb.14.] the man of God. [see Deut.33.1. and Jud.13.6.] Lord, thou hast been a refuge unto us [to wit, in all our straights and troubles, see Exod.33.v.14. Deut.8.15. and 33.27. Heb. An habitation, retrait (or place of retreat)] from generation to generation. [Heb. In generation and generation. [Heb. In generation and generation, i.e. throughout and unto all generations, or at all times.]

2. Before the hills were born [i.e. before the hills and mountains were drawn forth as it were out of the abyss or bottom. See the like expressions, Gen.2.4. Job 15:7. and 38.28,29. Isa.51.2.] and thou hadst brought forth the Earth and the world, yea from eternity to eternity thou art God.

3. Thou makest man to return to bruising: [i.e. to such a state and condition, that he is bruised and grinded as it were as small as dust. See Gen.3.v.19.] and sayest, turn again ye children of men. [viz. The body to Earth, Psa.146.4. and the spirit to God, Eccles.12.7.]

4. For a thousand years are in thine eyes, as the day yesterday being past by; [He will say: although a man lived a thousand years, yet he must die, and thou takest his life as easily away from him, as if he had lived but a day or week, 2 Pet.3.8. Oth. But a thousand years &c. Reflecting on the second verse, to set out the difference which is between mortal man and the ever living God] and (as) a night watch. [Heb. (as) the watch in the night, that is, one fourth part of the night, the same being usually divided into four parts. See Mark.35. and John 11:9.]

5. Thou overstreamest (or overwhelmest) them [As if he say, even easily and unresistaby as a flood of water, breaketh through, carrieth and hurrieth all away before it] they are (like) a sleep: in the morning they are like the grass (that) altereth; [meaning that men are scarce born, but they perish immediately, understanding by the Morn, mans youth or infancy.]

6. In the morning it flourisheth and it altereth, [i.e. is renewed with more vigour and beauty. Compare Job 14:7. Isa.40.v.31. Some take it for the hasty or sudden change into destruction] in the evening it is cut off and it withereth.

7. For we perish through thine anger, [Kindled against us by reason of our sins] and through thy fierceness we are terrified.

8. Thou settest our iniquities before thee: our secret (sins) [Which are hid before the eyes of men, and which oft times we either know not or regard not ourselves. See Psa.19.v.13. and Job 20:11.] in the light of thy countenance. [viz. Hast thou set them, that they do clearly appear before thy face. See Psa.51.11. and 1 Cor.4.5. Heb.1.13.]

9. For all our days pass away [Oth. Turn themselves] through thine indignation, we pass away our years as a through thine indignation, we pass away our years as a thought. [i.e. most hastily. Oth. As a word, which is a sound of no lasting, vanishing presently away in the air.]

10. As for the days of our years, therein there are seventy years; [viz. Usually for the most part, though some out live that age] or if we be very strong [Heb. In strengths, viz. If any be of a strong and vigorous constitution by nature] fourscore years; and the most excelling of them [Heb. The haughtiness or stoutness of them, i.e. that which maketh men stout and presumptuous, viz. The strength of a mans life] is toil and vexation; [when a man is in the best of his age or life, even before the old days come on, he is subject to a world of toil and trouble in this world] for it is suddenly cut off and we fly away.

11. Who knoweth the strength of thy wrath? [So namely as to take care how to eschew the same; or so as to beware of provoking thee to wrath by his sins] and thine indignation, according as thou art to be feared? [Heb. According to thy fears, i.e. according as we ought to fear thee: or as thou art fearful or formidable.]

12. Teach us so to number [Or rightly to number: [Thus the Hebrew word is taken, Num.27.7. and 2 Kings 7:9.] (our) days, that we get a wise heart. [Heb. That we bring on a heart of wisdom, or unto wisdom i.e. that we rightly understanding thy fierce wrath gainst sin, may learn to fear thee, and to improve the shot time of our life in thy service, Job 28:28.]

13. Turn again LORD, how long? [viz. Delayest thou or shall it sure, that thou at turned away from us: or is it, before thou deliver us. See Psa.6.4.] and let it repent thee [or repent, see Gen.6.6. Understand hereby, that thou hast so grievously afflicted us] over thy servants. i.e. over us, which are thy servants and people.]

14. Satisfy you in the morning with thy kindness [As if he said, shew is thy kindness early after the long and dark night of oppression] so shall we shout; and rejoice in all our days, [i.e. all the days of our life.]

15. Make us to rejoice according to the days (wherein) thou hast pressed us; [That is, as thou hast grieved us a long time with heavy afflictions, so make us glad again in time to come, wit thy gracious aid and deliverance] according to the years (wherein) we have seen the evil. [i.e. felt and suffered it, as Psa.16.10. and 89.49. see also Psa.4.7.]

16. Let thy work [i.e. the perfect deliverance out of all our troubles and misery] be seen [or appear] upon thy servants, and thy glory [in the deliverance, whereby thy glory is made manifest viz. Thy power kindness and wisdom] over their children, [i.e. over their posterity, according to the Covenant made with their Fathers.]

17. And the loveliness of the LORD our God be over us: [Or, Let the LORD our God likewise delight in us] and establish thou the work of our hands over us; yea, the works of our hands establish the same. [i.e. rule and govern all our purposes and doings so, that from hence for ward it may through thy grace remain firm and constant still: for without God we can do nothing, John 15:7. James 1:17.]