Psalm. 90 Cap. 12 v.

Psalm 90

Psalm. 90 Cap. 12 v.
HERRE! lad os faa kiende at tælle vore Dage,
at vi bekomme Viisdom i Hiertet.

Det Moses bad, vi bede bør
    Hvert Øyeblik vi lever.
Forgieves vi først Knæfald giør,
    Naar Døden Solden kræver.
At have Viisdom til at døe,
    Er, hvad vi bør at søge.
All anden Vid paa Verdens Øe
    Vort Gavn kand ey forøge.
Søg denne Viisdom nu, du Folk!
    I al din Tid og Handel.
God Gerning blive Troens Tolk
    Udi din heele Vandel.
Roes dig ey af, at vide meer,
    End GUD og dig at kiende;
Samt at du gudelig indseer,
    Dit Liv vil snart faae Ende.

Psalm 90, verse 12.
LORD! So teach us to number our days,
            that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom(1).

That which Moses prayed, we should pray
    each moment that we live.
In vain we don't fall on our knees
    before Death demands the wages(2).
To have the wisdom to die,
    is what we ought to seek.
All other wit on the world's island(3)
    cannot increase our usefulness.
Seek this wisdom now, you people!
    In all your time and trading.
Let good deed become the interpreter of the faith
    in all your conduct.
Do not glory in knowing more,
    than to know GOD and yourself;(4)
and that you piously realize,
    that your life will soon end.

Footnotes: (1) (2) (3) (4)

This line (except for the word "Lord") is taken from Psalms 90:12.
when Death demands the wages . . .: And as we all know: The wages of sin is death. And the weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Nyah-hah-hah.
world's island . . .: Don't waste too much time looking for a deeper meaning. It's a very common expression, when poets need a word to rhyme with "Dø" (to die). There are other examples here and here.
Do not glory...: Jeremiah 9, 23-24: "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD".

Dansk Select language The dance of death Danish Dances of Death Døde-Dands Psalm. 90 Cap. 12 v.

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