So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Parallel translations
- WEB So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
- BSB So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of 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 39:4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
- John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
- Deut 32:29O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
- Prov 4:7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
- Prov 3:13–18Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
- Prov 23:12Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
- Eccl 9:10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Luke 12:35–40Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
- Prov 4:5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
- Prov 2:2–6So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
- Prov 7:1–4My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
- Prov 18:1–2Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
- Prov 22:17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
- Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
- Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- Prov 8:32–36Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.