So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.
Parallel translations
- WEB So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
- KJV So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
- NKJV So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
- NASB So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
- NLT Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses prays that God would teach us to value our short days so we may grow wise.
Overview
Recognizing life's brevity (vv. 3-11), Moses asks for grace to "number our days" and so gain wisdom. True wisdom lives in light of mortality and God's eternity. This wisdom is ultimately found in Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom (Col. 2:3), teaching us to redeem the time (Eph. 5:15-16).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Eph 5:16–17redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- Ps 39:4“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.
- John 9:4While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
- Deut 32:29If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate.
- Prov 4:7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
- Prov 3:13–18Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
- Prov 23:12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Prov 16:16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
- Luke 12:35–40Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
- Prov 4:5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
- Prov 2:2–6if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
- Prov 7:1–4My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
- Prov 18:1–2He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
- Prov 22:17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
- Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Prov 23:23Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
- Prov 8:32–36Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 90:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.