Verse 1 Dwelling place - Although we and our fathers, for some generations, have had no fixed habitation, yet thou hast been instead of a dwelling - place to us, by thy watchful and gracious providence. And this intimates that all the following miseries were not to be imputed to God but themselves.
Verse 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou — Thou hadst thy power, and all thy perfections, from all eternity.
Verse 3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. Turnedst — But as for man, his case is far otherwise, though he was made by thee happy. and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable. Saidst — Didst pronounce that sad sentence, return, O men, to the dust out of which ye were taken, Genesis 3:19 .
Verse 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Past — Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible. A watch — Which lasted but three or four hours.
Verse 5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. Them — Mankind. Away — Universally, without exception or distinction. A sleep — Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded ’till it be past.
Verse 7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Are consumed — Thou dost not suffer us to live so long as we might by the course of nature.
Verse 8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. Hast set — Thou dost observe them, as a righteous judge, and art calling us to an account for them. Secret sins — Which though hid from the eyes of men, thou hast brought to light by thy judgments.
Verse 10 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. Our years — Of the generality of mankind, in that and all following ages, some few persons excepted. Flee — We do not now go to death, as we do from our very birth, but flee swiftly away like a bird, as this word signifies.
Verse 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. Thy fear — According to the fear of thee; according to that fear which sinful men have of a just God. So — It bears full proportion to it, nay indeed doth far exceed it.
Verse 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Teach us — To consider the shortness of life, and the certainty and speediness of death. That — That we may heartily devote ourselves to true wisdom.
Verse 13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. Return — To us in mercy. How long — Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.
Verse 14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Early — Speedily.
Verse 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. The beauty — His gracious influence, and glorious presence. In us — Do not only work for us, but in us,