Psalms 90

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” Naming Return and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include evening, flourisheth, groweth. Its relationship to verses 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Return, O LORD , how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” The line’s distinctive content terms include days, early, glad. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.” Naming Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.” The line’s distinctive content terms include appear, children, glory. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.