Psalm 90-91

Easy-to-Read Version

³ You bring people into this world,
    and you change them into dust again.
⁴ To you, a thousand years is like yesterday,
    like a few hours in the night.
⁵ Our life is like a dream that ends when morning comes.
We are like grass
⁶     that grows and looks so fresh in the morning,
    but in the evening it is dry and dying.
⁷ Your anger could destroy us.
    Your anger frightens us!
⁸ You know about all our sins.
    You see every one of our secret sins.
⁹ Your anger can end our life.
    Our lives fade away like a whisper.
¹⁰ We live about 70 years
    or, if we are strong, 80 years.
But most of them are filled with hard work and pain.
    Then, suddenly, the years are gone, and we fly away.
¹¹ No one really knows the full power of your anger,
    but our fear and respect for you is as great as your anger.
¹² Teach us how short our lives are
    so that we can become wise.
¹³ Lord, come back to us.
    Be kind to your servants.
¹⁴ Fill us with your love every morning.
    Let us be happy and enjoy our lives.
¹⁵ For years you have made life hard for us and have given us many troubles.
    Now make us happy for just as long.
¹⁶ Let your servants see the wonderful things you can do for them.
    And let their children see your glory.
¹⁷ Lord, our God, be kind to us.
    Make everything we do successful.
    Yes, make it all successful.

91 You can go to God Most High to hide.
    You can go to God All-Powerful for protection.
² I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress.
    My God, I trust in you.”
³ God will save you from hidden dangers
    and from deadly diseases.
⁴ You can go to him for protection.
    He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies.
    You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.
⁵ You will have nothing to fear at night
    and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day.
⁶ You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark
    or terrible suffering that comes at noon.
⁷ A thousand people may fall dead at your side
    or ten thousand right beside you,
    but nothing bad will happen to you!
⁸ All you will have to do is watch,
    and you will see that the wicked are punished.
⁹ You trust in the Lord for protection.
    You have made God Most High your place of safety.
¹⁰ So nothing bad will happen to you.
    No diseases will come near your home.
¹¹ He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go.
¹² Their hands will catch you
    so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.
¹³ You will have power to trample on lions
    and poisonous snakes.
¹⁴ The Lord says, “If someone trusts me, I will save them.
    I will protect my followers who call to me for help.
¹⁵ When my followers call to me, I will answer them.
    I will be with them when they are in trouble.
    I will rescue them and honor them.
¹⁶ I will give my followers a long life
    and show them my power to save.”