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 our hands establish thou it.
And let the beauty {H5278} of the LORD {H3068} our God {H430} be upon us: and establish {H3559}{H8786)} thou the work {H4639} of our hands {H3027} upon us; yea, the work {H4639} of our hands {H3027} establish {H3559}{H8786)} thou it.
May the favor of Adonai our God be on us, prosper for us all the work that we do -yes, prosper the work that we do.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands— yes, establish the work of our hands!
And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
-
Proverbs 16:3
¶ Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. -
1 Corinthians 3:7
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. -
2 Thessalonians 2:16
¶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, -
2 Thessalonians 3:1
¶ Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you: -
Psalms 118:25
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. -
Isaiah 26:12
¶ LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. -
Job 22:28
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Psalms 90:17 is a profound prayer from Moses, serving as a powerful conclusion to a psalm that meditates on God's eternal nature, human transience, and the consequences of sin. This verse expresses a deep longing for divine favor and the lasting impact of God's blessing on human endeavors.
Context
Psalm 90 is unique as the only psalm attributed to Moses, making it one of the oldest compositions in the biblical Psalter. It is a prayer that likely emerged from the wilderness experience, reflecting on the brevity and struggles of human life in contrast to God's everlasting dominion. The psalm begins by establishing God as an eternal dwelling place (Psalm 90:1-2) and then laments the fleeting nature of human existence, often cut short by divine displeasure due to sin (Psalm 90:7-11). The latter part of the psalm shifts to a plea for wisdom, mercy, and renewal (Psalm 90:12-16). Verse 17, therefore, is a culminating request for God's manifest presence and blessing to make their limited time and efforts count for eternity.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "beauty" in the KJV is no'am (נֹעַם), which carries the sense of pleasantness, graciousness, delight, or charm. It’s not merely aesthetic beauty, but the attractiveness and goodness of God's character and His favorable disposition towards His people. The repetition of "establish thou the work of our hands" using the Hebrew word kun (כּוּן), meaning to set up, confirm, make firm, or prepare, emphasizes the earnestness of Moses' prayer and the deep desire for permanence and divine validation of their efforts.
Practical Application
Psalms 90:17 offers a timeless prayer relevant for believers today. It encourages us to:
Ultimately, Psalms 90:17 is a beautiful petition for God's blessing to empower human effort, transforming transient labor into work that reflects His glory and endures for His purposes.