Devine Scripture

Psalms 90:10

What does Psalms 90:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Psalms 90:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Psalms 90:10 means

This verse reflects on the brevity and fragility of human life. It states that the typical lifespan is 70 years, or 80 if one is particularly strong. However, even these years are not without hardship; their "pride," meaning their accomplishments, efforts, or even the best parts of life, are described as "labor and sorrow." This imagery emphasizes that much of life is marked by toil and grief, rather than lasting joy or fulfillment. The swift passing of life is highlighted by the phrases "it passes quickly" and "we fly away," suggesting a rapid, almost fleeting existence that ultimately leads to death.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The days of our years are threescore years and ten, Or even by reason of strength fourscore years; Yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; For it is soon gone, and we fly away.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The days of our years are threescore years and ten, Or even by reason of strength fourscore years; Yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; For it is soon gone, and we fly away.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Days of our years, in them <FI>are<Fi> seventy years, And if, by reason of might, eighty years, Yet <FI>is<Fi> their enlargement labour and vanity, For it hath been cut off hastily, and we fly away.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet their pride is labour and vanity, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Context

Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, making it the oldest psalm in the collection. It is a prayer that contrasts God's eternal nature with humanity's fleeting existence. Immediately before verse 10, Moses reflects on God being a dwelling place for generations, and how God turns man back to dust, emphasizing human mortality. Following verse 10, the psalm continues with pleas for God to teach men wisdom, to show favor, and to establish the work of their hands, seeking divine purpose and blessing in light of life's brevity. This verse serves as a central point in Moses' meditation on human frailty and the need for God's perspective.

v.9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We bring our years to an end as a sigh.

v.10This passage

v.11Who knoweth the power of thine anger, And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Kings 1:1

    Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

  • Psalms 78:39

    And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

  • Deuteronomy 34:7

    And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

  • James 4:14

    whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

  • Genesis 47:9

    And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years: few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

  • 2 Samuel 19:35

    I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

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