I have looked up two different versions of the bible and these verses, as well as two commentaries for contrast/comparison.
Psalms 90:1-4 (ESV)
(A Prayer of Moses, the man of God)
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust
and say, Return, O children of man!
For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night
Psalms 90:1-4 (KJV)
(A Prayer of Moses, the man of God)
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction;
and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
For a thousand years in thy sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
and as a watch in the night
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Psalms Chapter 90
The eternity of God, the frailty of man. (1- 6)
Submission to Divine chastisements. (7- 11)
Prayer for mercy and grace. (12- 17)
Psalms Chapter 90 Verses. 1- 6
It is supposed that this psalm refers to the sentence passed on Israel in the wilderness, Numbers ch 14. The favor and protection of God are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world. Christ Jesus is the refuge and dwelling- place to which we may repair. We are dying creatures, all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an ever- living God, and believers find him so.
When God, by sickness, or other afflictions, turns men to destruction, he thereby calls men to return unto him to repent of their sins, and live a new life. A thousand years are nothing to God's eternity:between a minute and a million of years there is some proportion; between time and eternity there is none. All the events of a thousand years, whether past or to come, are more present to the Eternal Mind, than what was done in the last hour is to us. And in the resurrection, the body and soul shall both return and be united again. Time passes unobserved by us, as with men asleep; and when it is past, it is as nothing. It is a short and quickly- passing life, as the waters of a flood. Man does but flourish as the grass, which, when the winter of old age comes, will wither; but he may be mown down by disease or disaster
Jamieson, Fassuet, and Brown Commentary
PSALM 90
Ps 90:1- 17. Contrasting man's frailty with God's eternity, the writer mourns over it as the punishment of sin, and prays for a return of the divine favor. A Prayer [mainly such] of Moses the man of God-- (De 33:1; Jos 14:6); as such he wrote this (see on Ps 18:1, title, and Ps 36:1, title).
1. dwelling- place-- home (compare Eze 11:16), as a refuge (De 33:27).
2. brought forth [and] formed-- both express the idea of production by birth.
3. to destruction-- literally, "even to dust" (Ge 3:19), which is partly quoted in the last clause.
4. Even were our days now a thousand years, as Adam's, our life would be but a moment in God's sight (2Pe 3:8).
a watch-- or, third part of a night (compare Ex 14:24).
5, 6. Life is like grass, which, though changing under the influence of the night's dew, and flourishing in the morning, is soon cut down and withereth (Ps 103:15; 1Pe 1:24)
I hope this can add something to the conversation.
