Mazmur 90:12

90:12 So teach us to consider our mortality, ¹ 

so that we might live wisely. ² 

Mazmur 90:16-17

90:16 May your servants see your work! ³ 

May their sons see your majesty! ⁴ 

90:17 May our sovereign God extend his favor to us! ⁵ 

Make our endeavors successful!

Yes, make them successful! ⁶ 

[90:12]  ¹ tn Heb “to number our days,” that is, to be aware of how few they really are.

[90:12]  ² tn Heb “and we will bring a heart of wisdom.” After the imperative of the preceding line, the prefixed verbal form with the conjunction indicates purpose/result. The Hebrew term “heart” here refers to the center of one’s thoughts, volition, and moral character.

[90:16]  ³ tn Heb “may your work be revealed to your servants.” In this context (note v. 17) the verb form יֵרָאֶה (yera’eh) is best understood as an unshortened jussive (see Gen 1:9; Isa 47:3).

[90:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “and your majesty to their sons.” The verb “be revealed” is understood by ellipsis in the second line.

[90:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “and may the delight of the Master, our God, be on us.” The Hebrew term נֹעַם (no’am, “delight”) is used in Ps 27:4 of the Lord’s “beauty,” but here it seems to refer to his favor (see BDB 653 s.v.) or kindness (HALOT 706 s.v.).

[90:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the work of our hands establish over us, and the work of our hands, establish it.”