Psalm 90 9

Psalm 90:9 kjv

For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

Psalm 90:9 nkjv

For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh.

Psalm 90:9 niv

All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.

Psalm 90:9 esv

For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

Psalm 90:9 nlt

We live our lives beneath your wrath,
ending our years with a groan.

Psalm 90 verses

Psalm 90 9 Meaning

Psalm 90:9 vividly portrays the extreme brevity and fleeting nature of human life, attributing its quick demise to divine wrath, which is a righteous consequence of human sin. Our entire existence is depicted as consumed by this holy displeasure, leading us to conclude our allotted years swiftly, vanishing like a faint breath or a story quickly told and forgotten.

Psalm 90 9 Context

Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, the "man of God," making it the oldest psalm in the collection. It serves as a profound meditation on human mortality and divine eternity, likely written during Israel's forty-year wandering in the wilderness. This period was characterized by divine judgment, where an entire generation perished due to their disobedience and lack of faith (Num 14:26-35). Verse 9, specifically, reflects the lived experience of this generation, where days passed quickly under the heavy shadow of divine displeasure, with countless lives ending prematurely. The surrounding verses establish God as eternal and an unchanging refuge (vv. 1-2), in stark contrast to humanity, which God turns to dust (v. 3), views as short-lived (v. 4), and compares to vanishing grass (vv. 5-6). Verses 7 and 8 explain that it is God's anger and indignation, stirred by hidden sins, that consume them. Verse 9 then states how all their days and years passed in this wrath, ending fleetingly, setting the stage for Moses' subsequent plea for mercy and wisdom (vv. 10-17). The Psalm stands as a potent reminder of human frailty, the severity of sin, and the urgent need for divine wisdom and favor amidst life's brief journey.

Psalm 90 9 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction signifies a causal relationship, "because" or "indeed," introducing the reason for the earlier statements about divine wrath and human consumption (vv. 7-8). It links the quick cessation of life directly to God's displeasure.
• all our days (כָל־יָמֵינוּ - kol-yameinu): "All" emphasizes the entirety of human existence, every single day from birth to death. "Our days" points to the universal human experience, but also specifically reflects the collective fate of the wilderness generation. It signifies the sum total of one's limited lifespan.
• have passed away (פָּנוּ - panu): From the root panah (פנה), meaning "to turn," "to pass," "to vanish," "to disappear." It denotes a turning away, a going off or ceasing to be. It graphically illustrates life not just ending, but fading or slipping away, becoming nothing. This isn't merely chronological passage but an evaporation.
• in Your wrath (בְעֶבְרָתֶךָ - b'evratecha): This phrase reveals the cause of life's brevity. Evrah (עברה) signifies a strong, overflowing, furious anger, indignation, or rage. It is a more intense term than simple anger ('aph). The preposition "in" suggests that their entire life was experienced within the context or under the influence of this divine wrath, not merely as an occasional encounter with it. It speaks of a consuming divine judgment upon sin.
• we finish (כִּלִּינוּ - killinu): From the root kalah (כלה), meaning "to complete," "to bring to an end," "to consume," "to use up," "to be destroyed." This word indicates finality and often implies exhaustion or consumption. It means our years are entirely used up, consumed, or brought to their absolute close.
• our years (שָׁנֵינוּ - shaneinu): This parallels "our days," reinforcing the idea of an entire lifespan. "Years" denotes a more extensive measure of time, yet here it too is subjected to the same fleeting, consumed reality as individual "days."
• like a sigh (כְמוֹ הֶגֶה - k'mo hegeh): This is a profound and debated phrase.
  • כְמוֹ (k'mo): "like," "as."
  • הֶגֶה (hegeh): This word is crucial. It can mean a "sigh," "moan," "muttering," "meditation," or "thought." In contexts like Psa 9:16 (Higgaion Selah) it relates to a low, musical murmur or deep thought. The rendering "sigh" (e.g., NIV, ESV) captures the quick, involuntary, transient nature of human life – a breath that is emitted and then gone. A "groan" or "moan" could also convey suffering and quick dissipation.
  • "as a tale that is told" (KJV): This rendering comes from the interpretative understanding that hegeh can also refer to something spoken or recounted, suggesting a story that is told briefly and then forgotten. It emphasizes the ephemerality and forgettability of human existence. Whether a sigh or a told tale, the ultimate meaning conveyed is one of extreme brevity, rapid fading, and ultimate impermanence.
• Phrase Analysis:
  • "For all our days have passed away in Your wrath": This phrase presents a sweeping declaration that the totality of human experience is intrinsically linked to and overshadowed by God's judgment for sin. It implies a constant state of being consumed by consequences. It is a vivid portrayal of mortality driven by divine indignation.
  • "we finish our years like a sigh / as a tale that is told": This vivid simile underscores the sheer transience of life. The "sigh" emphasizes the brevity, futility, and sorrowful end of life—a momentary emission of breath, quickly vanishing. "A tale that is told" speaks to the fleeting nature of memory and experience—a story briefly heard and then forgotten, without lasting impact or remembrance. Both portray a life quickly spent and effortlessly concluded.

Psalm 90 9 Bonus section

The strong imagery of divine "wrath" (עֶבְרָה - evrah) in this psalm, as opposed to milder forms of anger, suggests not merely a temporary displeasure but a decisive and consuming judgment. This directly contrasts with false religious beliefs of self-determination or endless reincarnation prevalent in some ancient cultures. For the Hebrew people, divine judgment was never arbitrary; it was a righteous and consistent response to covenant unfaithfulness and rebellion against the Holy One. The psalmist here acknowledges God's complete control over life and death, reinforcing the monotheistic understanding of an active, judging YHWH, in contrast to passive or indifferent deities. The fleeting nature of human existence under God's righteous anger powerfully underscores the psalmist's plea in subsequent verses (Psa 90:12) to "number our days," highlighting the spiritual discipline of embracing our mortality as motivation for wisdom and righteous living. This perspective is a foundation for biblical wisdom: understanding the brevity of life compels one to seek eternal values and the lasting favor of God.

Psalm 90 9 Commentary

Psalm 90:9 offers a stark reflection on human existence under the shadow of divine judgment. Moses, deeply familiar with God's justice from the wilderness generation, paints a picture where life is not merely short, but consumed by the righteous anger of God, resulting from humanity's pervasive sin. Every single day, every year, is not lived in a vacuum but is weighed down by this divine displeasure, which shortens and embitters it. The powerful imagery of life ending "like a sigh" or "a tale that is told" encapsulates ultimate impermanence. A sigh is involuntary, swift, and leaves no trace; a told tale, however engaging, is quickly over and often forgotten. This speaks to life's intrinsic brevity, its labor and sorrow, and its eventual disappearance from the realm of the living and, eventually, from memory. The verse forces a confrontation with our finite nature, calling us to acknowledge the pervasive impact of sin and the sovereign power of God who determines the boundaries of life itself. This serves as a vital perspective for living intentionally, valuing the limited time given.