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11 [a]Who understands the might of your anger
    and rightly fears the power of your wrath?
12 Teach us to comprehend how few our days are
    so that our hearts may be filled with wisdom.
13 Return,[b]Lord. How long must we wait?
    Show compassion to your servants.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 90:11 The psalmist prays that God may teach his people to appreciate the number of years given them and to use them in doing God’s will. He asks that they may acquire a correct view of life so as not to challenge God’s wrath but rather work out their salvation throughout their life. All this is given us in wisdom, which discerns the true values and gives the righteous a realistic attitude in accord with the divine will and adapted to circumstances (see Deut 4:6; 32:29). Hearts: see note on Ps 4:8.
  2. Psalm 90:13 The psalmist now extends to Israel the meditation and prayer that concerned all humanity. Return: i.e., “relent.” How long . . . ?: see note on Ps 6:4.