Psalms 90:17

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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!

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 90:17 is a profound concluding prayer from Moses, serving as a powerful petition for God's manifest favor and blessing to rest upon His people and their endeavors. Following a meditation on God's eternal nature and human transience, this verse expresses a deep yearning for divine pleasantness and graciousness to be evident in their lives, coupled with an earnest plea for God to establish and give lasting significance to the work of their hands, transforming transient human effort into enduring, God-honoring fruit.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 90 stands unique as the only psalm explicitly attributed to Moses, placing it among the oldest compositions in the Psalter. The psalm opens by declaring God as the eternal dwelling place and refuge for His people, contrasting His everlasting nature with the fleeting, ephemeral existence of humanity, which is likened to a passing dream or grass that withers ([Psalms 90:1-6](/psalms/90-1 "Psalms 90:1-6 - God's Eternity vs. Human Transience")). Moses then laments the brevity of life, often cut short by divine wrath due to sin, acknowledging that human days are filled with toil and sorrow ([Psalms 90:7-11](/psalms/90-7 "Psalms 90:7-11 - The Brevity of Life and God's Wrath")). This somber reflection transitions into a fervent prayer for wisdom, mercy, and joy, asking God to satisfy them with His steadfast love and make them glad for the days of affliction ([Psalms 90:12-16](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12-16 - A Prayer for Wisdom, Mercy, and Joy")). Verse 17, therefore, serves as the culminating petition, a climactic request for God's active presence and blessing to validate and give eternal purpose to their limited time and efforts.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Attributed to Moses, this psalm likely originates from the wilderness wanderings of Israel, a period marked by divine judgment, discipline, and the profound experience of human mortality (e.g., the generation that perished in the wilderness). Life in the desert was harsh, demanding, and often felt futile, with forty years of wandering before reaching the promised land. In this context, the prayer for God's "beauty" (favor, pleasantness) to be "upon us" reflects a deep longing for divine approval and alleviation from hardship, much like the visible manifestation of God's glory that accompanied Israel ([Exodus/40](/exodus/40 "Exodus 40 - The Glory of God Fills the Tabernacle")). The emphasis on "the work of our hands" speaks to the daily labor required for survival, the building of the Tabernacle, and the anticipation of settling the land. In an ancient agrarian society, the success of one's labor was directly tied to divine blessing, making the establishment of their work a matter of both physical sustenance and spiritual validation.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 90:17 powerfully encapsulates several major theological and narrative themes prevalent not only in this psalm but throughout the broader biblical narrative. Fundamentally, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Human Dependence**, acknowledging that true, enduring success and fruitfulness in any human endeavor—whether spiritual, familial, or vocational—do not stem from human effort alone but from God's gracious intervention and empowerment. This verse also highlights the theme of **Divine Favor and Presence**, as the request for the "beauty of the LORD" to be upon them is a plea for God's manifest graciousness, approval, and pleasantness to illuminate their lives and actions, transforming their experience. Furthermore, it addresses the **Significance of Human Labor**, elevating daily work from mere toil to a potential avenue for glorifying God and bearing lasting fruit when consecrated to Him and established by His hand. This resonates with the wisdom literature, which often speaks of the futility of labor without God's blessing, as seen in [Ecclesiastes 2:24](/ecclesiastes/2-24 "Ecclesiastes 2:24 - Enjoyment of Labor is from God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Beauty (Hebrew, _no'am'_):** The Hebrew word נֹעַם (*no'am*) carries a rich semantic range, extending beyond mere aesthetic beauty to encompass pleasantness, graciousness, delight, charm, and favor. When applied to God, as here, it refers to His inherent goodness, the attractiveness of His character, and His benevolent, favorable disposition towards His people. It implies a desire for God's delightful presence and approval to be tangibly experienced and visibly evident in their lives, making their existence pleasant and blessed in His sight.
* **Establish (Hebrew, _kun'_):** The Hebrew verb כּוּן (*kun*) means to set up, confirm, make firm, prepare, or secure. Its repetition in the verse ("establish thou the work of our hands... yea, the work of our hands establish thou it") emphasizes the earnestness of the plea and the deep desire for permanence, stability, and divine validation of their efforts. It implies a longing for their labor to be fruitful, enduring, and ultimately, to have lasting significance and purpose beyond their fleeting lives, secured by God's own power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us":** This opening clause is a fervent petition for God's gracious presence and favor to rest upon His people. "The beauty of the LORD" refers to God's pleasantness, His delightful character, and His benevolent disposition. The prayer is that this divine favor would not merely be observed but would actively "be upon us," meaning it would be evident in their lives, influencing their circumstances, and radiating from them, making them pleasing in God's sight and blessed in their endeavors.
* **"and establish thou the work of our hands upon us":** This is the core request concerning human labor. "The work of our hands" refers to all human endeavors, tasks, and achievements—from daily toil to spiritual service. The plea for God to "establish" it signifies a desire for permanence, stability, and lasting fruitfulness. It acknowledges human limitation and dependence, recognizing that without God's divine intervention, even the most diligent efforts can be fleeting or futile. The phrase "upon us" further emphasizes that this establishment is for their benefit and visible in their lives.
* **"yea, the work of our hands establish thou it":** This is a powerful repetition, intensifying the plea and underscoring its profound importance. The reiteration serves to highlight Moses' earnestness and the deep-seated human longing for their efforts to have enduring significance. It functions as an emphatic re-affirmation, stressing the absolute necessity of God's sovereign hand in validating, securing, and giving lasting purpose to all that they do. It is a humble recognition that true legacy and impact are ultimately God's gift.

#### Literary Devices
The most prominent literary device in Psalms 90:17 is **Repetition**. The phrase "the work of our hands establish thou it" is repeated, emphasizing the earnestness of the prayer and the profound desire for divine validation and permanence for human labor. This repetition serves to underscore the central theme of dependence on God for the fruitfulness and lasting impact of all human endeavors. Additionally, the entire verse functions as a **Petition** or **Supplication**, a direct and heartfelt request addressed to God, characteristic of many psalms. The structure moves from a general plea for divine favor to a specific, intensified request for the establishment of their work, building emotional and spiritual momentum.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 90:17 encapsulates a profound theological truth: human effort, no matter how diligent, finds its ultimate meaning and lasting impact only when consecrated to and established by God. It is a prayer that bridges the chasm between human transience and divine eternity, seeking to imbue finite actions with infinite significance. This verse teaches us that God's "beauty" or favor is not merely an aesthetic quality but an active, empowering presence that transforms and validates our existence and labor. It underscores the biblical principle that all true and enduring fruitfulness flows from divine blessing, not human strength alone. This dependence on God for the establishment of our work aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereignty over all creation and human endeavors.

* [Proverbs 16:3](/proverbs/16-3 "Commit Your Works to the Lord")
* [Psalm 127:1](/psalms/127-1 "Unless the LORD Builds")
* [1 Corinthians 3:6-7](/1_corinthians/3-6 "God Gives the Increase")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 90:17 offers a timeless prayer for every believer navigating the brevity of life and the desire for meaningful contribution. It calls us to a posture of profound dependence on God, recognizing that our efforts, though necessary, are insufficient to produce lasting fruit without His divine endorsement. This verse encourages us to actively seek God's "beauty"—His favor, grace, and delightful presence—in every aspect of our lives, from the mundane tasks of daily work to our most significant spiritual endeavors. It challenges us to dedicate our labor to Him, not just as a duty, but as an act of worship, trusting that He alone can take our finite contributions and establish them for eternal purposes. In a world obsessed with fleeting achievements, this prayer redirects our focus to God's enduring kingdom, inspiring us to desire that our lives and work would truly glorify Him and bear fruit that lasts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the awareness of life's brevity (as described in Psalm 90) influence your desire for God to establish the work of your hands?**
* **In what specific areas of your life (work, family, ministry, personal growth) do you most desire God's "beauty" or favor to be evident?**
* **What does it mean practically to "commit your works to the LORD" (Proverbs 16:3) in light of this prayer for divine establishment?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper sense of dependence on God for the lasting impact of your efforts, rather than relying solely on your own strength or ingenuity?**

### FAQ
**What does "the beauty of the LORD" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Psalms 90:17, "the beauty of the LORD" (Hebrew: *no'am*) refers to more than just aesthetic appeal. It primarily signifies God's pleasantness, graciousness, favor, and delightful disposition. It's a prayer for God's benevolent presence and approval to be evident in the lives of His people, making their existence and endeavors pleasing to Him and blessed by Him. It implies a desire for God's character to shine through them, bringing about a state of divine favor and well-being, much like the glory of God that rested upon the Tabernacle ([Exodus 40:34-35](/exodus/40-34 "Exodus 40:34-35 - The Cloud Covers the Tent of Meeting")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 90:17 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of the "beauty of the LORD," the very "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")). In Him, God's favor and pleasantness are perfectly manifested and extended to humanity. Moreover, Jesus's work—His perfect life, atoning death on the cross, and victorious resurrection—is the preeminent "work of our hands" that God has established, not merely upon us, but for us, eternally. His finished work is the only human endeavor that possesses inherent, lasting, and eternal significance, securing redemption and establishing a new covenant ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Eternal Redemption")). Through faith in Christ, believers are united with Him, and their "work of faith" ([1 Thessalonians 1:3](/1_thessalonians/1-3 "1 Thessalonians 1:3 - Your Work of Faith")) performed in His name and by His Spirit is likewise established and given eternal value, contributing to the building of His everlasting kingdom ([1 Corinthians 3:12-14](/1_corinthians/3-12 "1 Corinthians 3:12-14 - Building on the Foundation")). Thus, the prayer of Moses is answered supremely in the person and work of Christ, through whom our transient efforts can bear eternal fruit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.