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Psalms

About this book
Psalm 90

1 A prayer of Moses, the man of God. O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations. 2 Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God. 3 You make mankind return to the dust, and say, “Return, O people.”⁠ 4 Yes, in your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday that quickly passes, or like one of the divisions of the nighttime.⁠ 5 You bring their lives to an end and they “fall asleep.” In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up:⁠ 6 In the morning it glistens and sprouts up; at evening time it withers and dries up. 7 Yes, we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath. 8 You are aware of our sins; you even know about our hidden sins. 9 Yes, throughout all our days we experience your raging fury; the years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives add up to 70 years, or 80, if one is especially strong.⁠ But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.⁠ 11 Who can really fathom the intensity of your anger? Your raging fury causes people to fear you. 12 So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely. 13 Turn back toward us, O Lord. How long must this suffering last? Have pity on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love. Then we will shout for joy and be happy all our days. 15 Make us happy in proportion to the days you have afflicted us, in proportion to the years we have experienced trouble. 16 May your servants see your work. May their sons see your majesty. 17 May our Sovereign God extend his favor to us. Make our endeavors successful. Yes, make them successful.

Texts in conversation

Compare Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8

Hebrew Bible · New Testament

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Summary

2 Peter echoes Psalm 90 to attempt to explain the delay of the coming end of the age, using the image of a thousand years as a single day to emphasize that divine time differs from human time.

Passages

Psalm 90:4

Hebrew Bible
2 Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God. 3 You make mankind return to the dust, and say, “Return, O people.” 4 Yes, in your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday that quickly passes, or like one of the divisions of the nighttime. 5 You bring their lives to an end and they “fall asleep.” In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up: 6 In the morning it glistens and sprouts up; at evening time it withers and dries up.
600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

2 Peter 3:8

New Testament
6 Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.
120–130 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Peter

References

"... The text of 2 Peter first cites Psalm 90:4 and then remarks that God delays judgment to give time for repentance because He is merciful. (Compare Genesis Rabbah 22:1; Sirach 18) Although R. Joshua’s remarks were not strictly apologetic in function, they do situate Psalm 90:4 within the context of the delay of divine judgment and mercy which are also found in 2 Peter 3:8-9. As regards the conclusion of the world, “one day is as a thousand years” occurs both in discussions of the length of the messiah’s day, and in explanations of the length of the world. In one text, the thousand-year day is described as a day of vengeance according to Isaiah 63:7 ..."
Jerome H. Neyrey, “The Form and Background of the Polemic in 2 Peter,” JBL 99.3 (1980): 407–431.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8

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