The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
The length of our lives is seventy years, and if we're strong enough, maybe eighty years. But even those extra years are filled with hard work and sadness, because life passes quickly and then we're gone.
The writer is acknowledging that human life is brief, typically 70-80 years, and even at its longest, it's filled with difficulty and passes by quickly.
📚 Historical Context
Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses and is one of the oldest psalms, written during the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. It reflects on the brevity of human life in contrast to God's eternal nature, emphasizing the hardships of aging as a reminder of mortality and the consequences of sin in a harsh desert environment. This verse highlights the typical lifespan observed in ancient times, underscoring the fleeting quality of life amid physical labor and sorrow.
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