The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 <A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.> Lord, you have been our resting-place in all generations.
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Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were made, before you had given birth to the earth and the world, before time was, and for ever, you are God.
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Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You send man back to his dust; and say, Go back, you children of men.
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You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 For to you a thousand years are no more than yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.
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A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
5 ...
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Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it is green; in the evening it is cut down, and becomes dry.
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In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are burned up by the heat of your passion, and troubled by your wrath.
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We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have put our evil doings before you, our secret sins in the light of your face.
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You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days have gone by in your wrath; our years come to an end like a breath.
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All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
10 The measure of our life is seventy years; and if through strength it may be eighty years, its pride is only trouble and sorrow, for it comes to an end and we are quickly gone.
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Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 Who has knowledge of the power of your wrath, or who takes note of the weight of your passion?
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If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 So give us knowledge of the number of our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.
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Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Come back, O Lord; how long? let your purpose for your servants be changed.
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Relent, LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.
14 In the morning give us your mercy in full measure; so that we may have joy and delight all our days.
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Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad in reward for the days of our sorrow, and for the years in which we have seen evil.
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Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 Make your work clear to your servants, and your glory to their children.
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May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
17 Let the pleasure of the Lord our God be on us: O Lord, give strength to the work of our hands.
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May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.