A. Before the flood men lived to very great ages:

GEN 5:1. This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

GEN 5:2. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

GEN 5:3. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:

GEN 5:4. And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:5. And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

GEN 5:6. And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

GEN 5:7. And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:8. And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

GEN 5:9. And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

GEN 5:10. And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:11. And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

GEN 5:12. And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:

GEN 5:13. And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:14. And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

GEN 5:15. And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

GEN 5:16. And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:17. And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

GEN 5:18. And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

GEN 5:19. And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:20. And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

GEN 5:21. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

GEN 5:22. And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:23. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

GEN 5:24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

GEN 5:25. And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.

GEN 5:26. And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:27. And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

GEN 5:28. And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

GEN 5:29. And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

GEN 5:30. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:

GEN 5:31. And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

GEN 5:32. And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

B. After the flood lifespans began to shorten:

GEN 11:10. These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

GEN 11:11. And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:12. And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

GEN 11:13. And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:14. And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

GEN 11:15. And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:16. And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

GEN 11:17. And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:18. And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

GEN 11:19. And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:20. And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

GEN 11:21. And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:22. And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

GEN 11:23. And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:24. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

GEN 11:25. And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

GEN 11:26. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

GEN 11:27. Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

GEN 11:28. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

GEN 11:29. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

GEN 11:30. But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

GEN 11:31. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

GEN 11:32. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

GEN 25:7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

GEN 25:8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

GEN 25:17. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

GEN 35:28. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

GEN 47:8. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

GEN 47:9. And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

DEU 34:7. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

JOS 24:29. And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

C. Today's average lifespan:

PSA 90:10. 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.

D. Old age a blessing for a righteous life:

2CH 24:15. But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

GEN 15:15. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

GEN 25:8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

DEU 34:7. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

1CH 29:28. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

JOB 5:26. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

PSA 91:14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

PSA 91:16. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

ISA 65:22. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

ZEC 8:3. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

ZEC 8:4. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

E. How to obtain the blessing of longevity:

DEU 5:33. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

DEU 30:20. That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

PSA 34:12. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

PSA 34:13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

PSA 34:14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

PRO 3:1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

PRO 3:2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

PRO 9:10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

PRO 9:11. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

PRO 10:27. The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

PRO 3:13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

PRO 3:16. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

PRO 4:7. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

PRO 4:10. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

PRO 9:10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

PRO 9:11. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

1PE 3:10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

1PE 3:11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

EXO 20:12. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

F. Praying for more time to live & serve the Lord:

2KI 20:1. In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

2KI 20:2. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

2KI 20:3. I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

2KI 20:4. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

2KI 20:5. Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

2KI 20:6. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

2KI 20:7. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

PSA 71:18. Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

G. Keeping up the will to live to help others:

PHI 1:23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

PHI 1:24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

PHI 1:25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

H. God sometimes revealed to men their time of departing:

PSA 39:4. LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

PSA 90:12. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

LUK 2:26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

2TIM 4:6. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2TIM 4:7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2PE 1:14. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

2KI 2:3. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

I. They often gave parting instructions to their family:

GEN 49:1. And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

GEN 49:33. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

GEN 50:22. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.

GEN 50:23. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

GEN 50:24. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

GEN 50:25. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

1KI 2:1. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

1KI 2:2. I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

1KI 2:3. And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

1KI 2:10. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

J. The futility of worrying that our time has come:

GEN 27:1. And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

GEN 27:2. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

GEN 27:3. Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

GEN 27:4. And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

GEN 35:28. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

GEN 35:29. And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

1SA 27:1. And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

HEB 2:15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

K. Trusting God to keep you alive until His appointed time:

JOB 7:1. Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

PSA 31:15. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

PSA 48:14. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

L. Sometimes not living to old age is a greater blessing:

GEN 5:23. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

GEN 5:24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

HEB 11:5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

ISA 57:1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

1KI 14:12. Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.