5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; H2229 they are as a sleep: H8142 in the morning H1242 they are like grass H2682 which groweth up. H2498
Terrors H1091 take hold H5381 on him as waters, H4325 a tempest H5492 stealeth him away H1589 in the night. H3915 The east H6921 wind carrieth him away, H5375 and he departeth: H3212 and as a storm hurleth H8175 him out of his place. H4725
As for man, H582 his days H3117 are as grass: H2682 as a flower H6731 of the field, H7704 so he flourisheth. H6692 For the wind H7307 passeth over H5674 it, and it is gone; and the place H4725 thereof shall know H5234 it no more.
Now therefore, behold, the Lord H136 bringeth up H5927 upon them the waters H4325 of the river, H5104 strong H6099 and many, H7227 even the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 and all his glory: H3519 and he shall come up H5927 over all his channels, H650 and go over H1980 all his banks: H1415 And he shall pass H2498 through Judah; H3063 he shall overflow H7857 and go over, H5674 he shall reach H5060 even to the neck; H6677 and the stretching out H4298 of his wings H3671 shall fill H4393 the breadth H7341 of thy land, H776 O Immanuel. H6005 H410
And the multitude H1995 of all the nations H1471 that fight H6633 against Ariel, H740 even all that fight H6638 against her and her munition, H4685 and that distress H6693 her, shall be as a dream H2472 of a night H3915 vision. H2377 It shall even be as when an hungry H7457 man dreameth, H2492 and, behold, he eateth; H398 but he awaketh, H6974 and his soul H5315 is empty: H7386 or as when H834 a thirsty man H6771 dreameth, H2492 and, behold, he drinketh; H8354 but he awaketh, H6974 and, behold, he is faint, H5889 and his soul H5315 hath appetite: H8264 so shall the multitude H1995 of all the nations H1471 be, that fight H6633 against mount H2022 Zion. H6726
Who is this that cometh up H5927 as a flood, H2975 whose waters H4325 are moved H1607 as the rivers? H5104 Egypt H4714 riseth up H5927 like a flood, H2975 and his waters H4325 are moved H1607 like the rivers; H5104 and he saith, H559 I will go up, H5927 and will cover H3680 the earth; H776 I will destroy H6 the city H5892 and the inhabitants H3427 thereof.
But G1161 the rich, G4145 in G1722 that he G846 is made low: G5014 because G3754 as G5613 the flower G438 of the grass G5528 he shall pass away. G3928 For G1063 the sun G2246 is no sooner risen G393 with G4862 a burning heat, G2742 but G2532 it withereth G3583 the grass, G5528 and G2532 the flower G438 thereof G846 falleth, G1601 and G2532 the grace G2143 of the fashion G4383 of it G846 perisheth: G622 so G3779 also G2532 shall G3133 the rich man G4145 fade away G3133 in G1722 his G846 ways. G4197
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 90
Commentary on Psalms 90 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 90
Ps 90:1-17. Contrasting man's frailty with God's eternity, the writer mourns over it as the punishment of sin, and prays for a return of the divine favor. A Prayer [mainly such] of Moses the man of God—(De 33:1; Jos 14:6); as such he wrote this (see on Ps 18:1, title, and Ps 36:1, title).
1. dwelling-place—home (compare Eze 11:16), as a refuge (De 33:27).
2. brought forth [and] formed—both express the idea of production by birth.
3. to destruction—literally, "even to dust" (Ge 3:19), which is partly quoted in the last clause.
4. Even were our days now a thousand years, as Adam's, our life would be but a moment in God's sight (2Pe 3:8).
a watch—or, third part of a night (compare Ex 14:24).
5, 6. Life is like grass, which, though changing under the influence of the night's dew, and flourishing in the morning, is soon cut down and withereth (Ps 103:15; 1Pe 1:24).
7, 8. For—A reason, this is the infliction of God's wrath.
troubled—literally, "confounded by terror" (Ps 2:5). Death is by sin (Ro 5:12). Though "secret," the light of God's countenance, as a candle, will bring sin to view (Pr 20:27; 1Co 4:5).
9. are passed—literally, "turn," as to depart (Jer 6:4).
spend—literally, "consume."
as a tale—literally, "a thought," or, "a sigh" (Eze 2:10).
10. Moses' life was an exception (De 34:7).
it is … cut off—or, "driven," as is said of the quails in using the same word (Nu 11:31). In view of this certain and speedy end, life is full of sorrow.
11. The whole verse may be read as a question implying the negative, "No one knows what Thy anger can do, and what Thy wrath is, estimated by a true piety."
12. This he prays we may know or understand, so as properly to number or appreciate the shortness of our days, that we may be wise.
13. (Compare Ps 13:2).
let it repent—a strong figure, as in Ex 32:12, imploring a change in His dealings.
14. early—promptly.
15. As have been our sorrows, so let our joys be great and long.
16. thy work—or, providential acts.
thy glory—(Ps 8:5; 45:3), the honor accruing from Thy work of mercy to us.
17. let the beauty—or sum of His gracious acts, in their harmony, be illustrated in us, and favor our enterprise.