A-Z: Common sayings from the Bible: Watch in the night

Usage

A brief period of time.

Definition

The Psalmist contrasts the eternal nature of God with the transient nature of humanity. A thousand years is but a blink of an eye for God.

Bible References

Psalms 90:4

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. ²Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. ³You return man to dust and say, Return, O children of man! ⁴For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. ⁵You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: ⁶in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. ⁷For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. ⁸You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. ⁹For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. ¹⁰The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. ¹¹Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? ¹²So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. ¹³Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! ¹⁴Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. ¹⁵Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. ¹⁶Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. ¹⁷Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

¹Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. ²Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. ³Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. ⁴For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. ⁵Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. ⁶In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. ⁷For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. ⁸Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. ⁹For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. ¹⁰The 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. ¹¹Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. ¹²So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. ¹³Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. ¹⁴O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. ¹⁵Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. ¹⁶Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. ¹⁷And 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.

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