Psalm 90:17
New International Version
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.

New Living Translation
And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

English Standard Version
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

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!

Berean Literal Bible
And may the favor of YHWH our God come to be upon us, and may You support the work of our hands upon us—and the work of our hands establish!

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

New American Standard Bible
May the kindness of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

NASB 1995
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

NASB 1977
And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And do confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And establish for us the work of our hands; Establish the work of our hands.

Amplified Bible
And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us; Confirm for us the work of our hands— Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

Berean Annotated Bible
May the favor (beauty) of the Lord our God {Adonai Elohenu} rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands—yes, establish the work of our hands!

Christian Standard Bible
Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands — establish the work of our hands!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands— 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.

Contemporary English Version
Our Lord and our God, treat us with kindness and let all go well for us. Please let all go well!

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let the kindness of the Lord our God be with us. Make us successful in everything we do. Yes, make us successful in everything we do.

Good News Translation
Lord our God, may your blessings be with us. Give us success in all we do!

International Standard Version
May your favor be on us, Lord our God; make our endeavors successful; yes, make our endeavors secure!

NET Bible
May our sovereign God extend his favor to us! Make our endeavors successful! Yes, make them successful!

New Heart English Bible
Let the favor of the LORD our God be on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yes, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Majority Text Translations
Majority 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!

World English Bible
Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And let the pleasantness of our God YHWH be on us, "" And establish on us the work of our hands, "" Indeed, establish the work of our hands!

Berean Literal Bible
And may the favor of YHWH our God come to be upon us, and may You support the work of our hands upon us—and the work of our hands establish!

Young's Literal Translation
And let the pleasantness of Jehovah our God be upon us, And the work of our hands establish on us, Yea, the work of our hands establish it!

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sweetness of Jehovah our God shall be upon us: and the work of our hands prepare thou it upon us; and the work of our hands prepare thou it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and direct thou the works of our hands over us; yea, the work of our hands do thou direct.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And may the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us. And so, direct the works of our hands over us; direct even the work of our hands.

New American Bible
May the favor of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!

New Revised Standard Version
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us; for the work of his hands made us, yea, he made us by the work of his hands.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Let the sweetness of LORD JEHOVAH our God be upon us, because of the works of his hands which he has fashioned for us, and he formed us among the work of his hands!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And let the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; Establish Thou also upon us the work of our hands; Yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and do thou direct for us the works of our hands.

Additional Translations ...



Context
I Will Sing of His Love Forever
16May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children. 17May 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!

Cross References
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;

Psalm 67:1
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

Numbers 6:24-26
‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; / may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; / may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’

Psalm 80:3
Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.
establish for us the work of our hands—

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.

Deuteronomy 28:12
The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.

Isaiah 26:12
O LORD, You will establish peace for us. For all that we have accomplished, You have done for us.
yes, establish the work of our hands!

Zechariah 4:9
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you.

Psalm 128:2
For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Deuteronomy 33:11
Bless his substance, O LORD, and accept the work of his hands. Smash the loins of those who rise against him, and of his foes so they can rise no more.”

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, / because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

2 Thessalonians 1:11
To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,

Nehemiah 6:16
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

1 Chronicles 29:14-16
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You. / For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. / O LORD our God, from Your hand comes all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy Name, and all of it belongs to You.


Treasury of Scripture

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be on us: and establish you the work of our hands on us; yes, the work of our hands establish you it.

and let

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 50:2
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Psalm 80:3,7
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved…

establish

Psalm 68:28
Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

Psalm 118:25
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

Job 22:28
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

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Beauty Confirm Establish Favor Graciousness Hands Pleasantness Pleasure Rest Strength Work
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Beauty Confirm Establish Favor Graciousness Hands Pleasantness Pleasure Rest Strength Work
Psalm 90
1. Moses, setting forth God's providence
3. Complains of human fragility
7. Divine chastisement
10. and brevity of life
12. He prays for the knowledge and sensible experience of God's good providence.












May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;

Moses closes the psalm with a prayer that God’s gracious presence and approval would remain with His people. After reflecting on human frailty and sin, he appeals to the covenant Lord for mercy and blessing.

Psa 67:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm.…
Num 6:24-26 ‘May the LORD bless you and keep you;…
Psa 80:3 Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us,…

establish for us the work of our hands—

Israel’s labor and future depended on God’s provision and purpose. Human effort cannot secure lasting results apart from His blessing.

Pro 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD and your plans…
Deu 28:12 The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse,…
Isa 26:12 O LORD, You will establish peace for us.…

yes, establish the work of our hands!

The repetition heightens the urgency of the request. Moses asks God to give permanence and value to the work of His people, so that their lives would serve His purposes rather than pass away without lasting fruit.

Zec 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation…
Psa 128:2 For when you eat the fruit of your labor,…
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable.…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 90, Moses is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for leading the Israelites out of Egypt and receiving the Ten Commandments from God.

2. Israelites
The people of God who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. This Psalm reflects their dependence on God for sustenance and purpose during their journey.

3. Wilderness
The setting for much of Moses' leadership, representing both physical and spiritual challenges faced by the Israelites.
Teaching Points
Divine Favor
God's favor is essential for the success and fulfillment of our endeavors. We should seek His blessing in all aspects of our lives, recognizing that without His grace, our efforts are in vain.

Purposeful Work
The work of our hands is not just about productivity but about fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. We are called to align our efforts with His will, ensuring that our work has eternal significance.

Dependence on God
Just as the Israelites depended on God in the wilderness, we must rely on Him to guide and establish our paths. This dependence fosters a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His plans for us.

Legacy and Impact
The establishment of our work by God ensures that it has a lasting impact. We should strive to leave a legacy that reflects God's glory and advances His kingdom.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 90:17?

2. How can we seek God's favor to "establish the work of our hands"?

3. What does Psalm 90:17 teach about the importance of God's approval in work?

4. How does Psalm 90:17 connect with Proverbs 16:3 about committing work to God?

5. In what ways can we ensure our work aligns with God's will daily?

6. How can we pray for God's beauty to be upon us in our endeavors?

7. How does Psalm 90:17 reflect God's role in establishing the work of our hands?

8. What is the historical context of Psalm 90:17 in the Book of Psalms?

9. How does Psalm 90:17 influence the Christian understanding of divine favor?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 90?


(17) Beauty.--Or, pleasantness. The Hebrew word, like the Greek ?????, and our "grace," seems to combine the ideas of "beauty" and "favour."

Verse 17. - And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us (comp. Psalm 45:24, "Thou art fairer than the children of men;" Psalm 27:4, "To behold the beauty of the Lord;" Isaiah 33:17, "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty"). The "beauty of God" is upon us when we see and realize the loveliness of his character. And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. The repetition adds nothing, except it be emphasis. God is asked, finally, to "establish the work" in which his servants are engaged - to bless it; that is, to advance it and prosper it. The nature of the "work" is not mentioned.

Psalm 90:17 invites believers to rest in God’s ongoing favor and to depend on Him to give lasting value to everything we undertake. When His grace settles upon us, our daily work—offered back to Him—becomes secure, significant, and eternally meaningful.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May the favor
נֹ֤עַם (nō·‘am)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5278: Agreeableness, delight, suitableness, splendor, grace

of the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֥י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

our God
אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

rest
וִיהִ֤י ׀ (wî·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

upon us;
עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ (‘ā·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

establish
כּוֹנְנָ֥ה (kō·wn·nāh)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

for us
עָלֵ֑ינוּ (‘ā·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the work
וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה (ū·ma·‘ă·śêh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

of our hands—
יָ֭דֵינוּ (yā·ḏê·nū)
Noun - fdc | first person common plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

establish
כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃ (kō·wn·nê·hū)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

the work
וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה (ū·ma·‘ă·śêh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

of our hands!
יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ (yā·ḏê·nū)
Noun - fdc | first person common plural
Strong's 3027: A hand


Additonal Resources
Psalm 90:17 Blue Letter Bible
Psalm 90:17 Bible Gateway
Psalm 90:17 Bible.com

Psalm 90:17 NIV
Psalm 90:17 NLT
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Psalm 90:17 NASB
Psalm 90:17 KJV

Psalm 90:17 Study Bible
Psalm 90:17 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 90:17 Chinese Bible
Psalm 90:17 French Bible
Psalm 90:17 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our (Psalm Ps Psa.)

Psalm 90:16
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