Psalm 90:5

From Everlasting to Everlasting · Psalm 90:1–17
Read Psalm 90

Translations

Modern
You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—
Traditional
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Literal
You sweep them away; they are in their sleep like the grass that sprouts up in the morning.
Latin
…quæ pro nihilo habentur, eorum anni erunt.

Original

Hebrew
English
You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—

Notes

Unlike God, humans are mortal and temporary.

Although the Lord’s people have lived in him for many generations, their sin creates distance between them and their eternal Lord. The Lord’s anger against human sin can seem to last a lifetime. Even then, it is only a small sign of his full displeasure with sin. This sad situation leads the community to seek the Lord’s light.

The first step is to ask the Lord to restore them because of his compassion and faithful love (Psalm 90:13–14). He alone can make his servants glad. He alone can bless the generations that come after them (Psalm 90:16–17).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Death Wisdom Psalms

Glossary

Calendars (Ancient and Modern) David Music Numbers, Book of Psalms, Book of

Topics

Flood: References To Grass of Shortness and Uncertainty of Life Grass: Figurative Life: Brevity and Uncertainty of Man: Compared to a Sleep Natural Life is Compared to a Sleep