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    Psalms 90 (KJV)

    Read Psalms chapter 90 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Psalms 90

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    Psalm 90:12

    "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts…"

    Psalm 90:14

    "O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and b…"

    Popular Verses in Psalms 90

    Most searched verses from this chapter, with KJV text and context.

    Psalm 90:12 KJV

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    Psalms 90 Summary

    Psalm 90 is the oldest psalm in the collection — attributed to Moses and the only psalm bearing his name. It opens with the majestic declaration: 'Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.' Before mountains existed, 'from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.' Moses contrasts God's eternity with human brevity — a thousand years are like yesterday, like a watch in the night.

    Human life is described as grass that flourishes in the morning and withers by evening. Moses attributes this brevity to God's anger against sin. He prays for perspective: 'So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.' The psalm concludes with a plea for God's beauty, favor, and the establishment of their work — 'establish thou the work of our hands upon us.'

    Key Themes

    God's EternityHuman BrevityNumbering Our DaysWisdom Through Mortality

    Key Verses in Psalms 90

    "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

    — Psalms 90:2

    The most comprehensive statement of God's eternality — He predates creation and outlasts everything.

    "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

    — Psalms 90:12

    Awareness of mortality produces urgency — count your days and invest them wisely.

    "And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us."

    — Psalms 90:17

    Moses' prayer for lasting significance — that God's beauty would mark their lives and their work would endure.

    Life Application

    You have a limited number of days — number them. Psalm 90 doesn't produce morbid anxiety but holy urgency. Make every day count. And find comfort: while life is brief, God is your dwelling place across all generations. Your life is short, but your God is eternal.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is Psalm 90 attributed to Moses?

    The superscription reads 'A Prayer of Moses the man of God.' Moses likely wrote it during the wilderness wandering, watching an entire generation die over forty years. His perspective on human mortality was shaped by witnessing the death of hundreds of thousands who never reached the Promised Land.

    What does 'number our days' mean?

    It means to live with awareness that life is finite and each day matters. It's not about counting days anxiously but about investing them wisely. When you recognize that your time is limited, you prioritize what truly matters — wisdom, relationships, serving God.

    Psalm 90 Commentary & Reflection

    Wisdom
    Solemn, wise

    Best read for: New Year, birthdays, funerals, reflection

    Overview of Psalm 90: Teach Us to Number Our Days

    The oldest psalm, attributed to Moses, Psalm 90 contrasts God's eternity with human frailty. A thousand years are like yesterday to God, while human life is like grass that springs up in the morning and withers by evening. Moses prays for wisdom to number our days and for God's favor to establish the work of our hands, finding meaning in the midst of mortality.

    Key Themes

    Mortality
    Eternity
    Wisdom
    God's Faithfulness

    Key Verses to Remember

    “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
    — Psalm 90:2 (KJV)
    “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
    — Psalm 90:12 (KJV)

    Reflection

    Life is breathtakingly brief. Moses doesn't despair at this truth — he asks God for the wisdom to live accordingly. Numbering your days isn't morbid; it's the beginning of real wisdom. How would you live differently if you truly grasped how short life is?

    Historical Context

    The oldest psalm, attributed to Moses—making it perhaps the oldest piece of Hebrew poetry in existence. Written during the 40 years of wilderness wandering as an entire generation died in the desert, it contains the famous prayer 'Teach us to number our days.' Moses, who lived 120 years, understood time's weight.

    How to Apply Psalm 90 Today

    Calculate roughly how many days you've lived and how many might remain. Not morbidly, but wisely. 'Numbering our days' means assigning weight and purpose to each one. If today were your last, would you spend it the way you're spending it? Apply your heart to wisdom now, not later.

    A Prayer from Psalm 90

    Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, You are God. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands. Amen.

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