So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Ps 90:12)
לִמְנֹ֣ות יָ֭מֵינוּ כֵּ֣ן הוֹדַ֑ע וְ֝נָבִ֗א לְבַ֣ב חָכְמָֽה׃
ἐξαριθμήσασθαι τὴν δεξιάν σου οὕτως γνώρισον καὶ τοὺς πεπεδημένους τῇ καρδίᾳ ἐν σοφίᾳ.
Dinumerare dies nostros sic doce nos, ut inducamus cor ad sapientiam.
To count (מָנָה mānāh) is the basic meaning of the verb mānāh in Hebrew. However, it is not about just any counting, but about counting for a specific purpose, in the sense of “the need to count something …” and “to dispose of.” In today’s responsorial Psalm (Ps 90:12), the psalmist asks the Lord: teach us to number (מָנָה mānāh) our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (לְבַ֣ב חָכְמָֽה), literally a heart of wisdom. To be able to “number the days” means “to number” the transience of life. Such a look at reality in truth is a manifestation of wisdom.
Hence, in the first reading, the author confesses that he prayed and was given understanding, called upon and the spirit of Wisdom came to his aid (Wis 7:7), which is why he was able to see greater value in wisdom than in power and wealth. The opposite is the rich man of the Gospel, who was unable to make the right choice because, being focused on his wealth, he did not recognize in the penetrating gaze of Jesus the priceless love of God.
Furthermore, today, in our everyday affairs, wisdom is the ability to look at reality with a penetrating eye and “numbers” (מָנָה mānāh) our days, that is, to discover true values for making wise choices.
