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Remembering God’s Help

For the director of music. For Jeduthun [C a Levitical musician; 1 Chr. 16:41–42; 25:1, 6; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].

77 I cry out to God;
    I call to God, and he ·will hear [or heard] me.
I ·look [sought] for the Lord on the day of ·trouble [L my distress].
    All night long I ·reach out my untiring hands [L flow forth my hand and it does not grow weak],
    but I ·cannot [refuse to] be comforted.
When I remember God, I ·become upset [moan];
    when I ·think [reflect; meditate], ·I become afraid [my soul faints]. ·Selah [Interlude]

You ·keep my eyes from closing [L grab the eyelids of my eyes].
    I am too ·upset [disturbed] to say anything.
I keep thinking about the old days,
    the years of long ago [C when things were going well].
At night I remember my songs.
    I ·think [meditate] and ·I ask myself [L my spirit inquires]:
“Will the Lord reject us forever?
    Will he never be ·kind [favorable] to us again?
Is his ·love [loyalty] gone forever?
    Has he stopped speaking for all time [C he questions God’s commitment to the covenant]?
Has God forgotten ·mercy [compassion]?
    Is he too angry to ·pity [have mercy on] us?” ·Selah [Interlude]
10 Then I say, “This is what makes me sad:
    ·For years the power of God Most High was with us [L The right hand of the God Most High has changed].”

11 I remember what the Lord did;
    I remember the ·miracles [wonderful acts] you did long ago.
12 I ·think [mused] about all the things you did
    and ·consider [meditated on] your deeds.

13 God, your ways are holy.
    ·No god [L What god…?] is as great as our God.
14 You are the God who does ·miracles [wonders];
    you have ·shown [made known to] people your power.
15 By your ·power [L arm] you have ·saved [redeemed] your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. ·Selah [Interlude]

16 God, the waters saw you;
    they saw you and ·became afraid [L writhed];
    the deep waters shook with fear.
17 The clouds poured down their rain.
    The ·sky [clouds] ·thundered [L gave forth a sound].
    Your lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.
18 Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind.
    Lightning lit up the world.
    The earth trembled and ·shook [quaked].
19 You made a way through the sea
    and paths through the ·deep [L many] waters,
    but your footprints were not ·seen [revealed].
20 You led your people like a flock
    by ·using [L the hand of] Moses and Aaron [Ex. 14–15].

Psalm 77[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

I cried out to God(A) for help;
    I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress,(B) I sought the Lord;
    at night(C) I stretched out untiring hands,(D)
    and I would not be comforted.(E)

I remembered(F) you, God, and I groaned;(G)
    I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[b](H)
You kept my eyes from closing;
    I was too troubled to speak.(I)
I thought about the former days,(J)
    the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
    My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

“Will the Lord reject forever?(K)
    Will he never show his favor(L) again?
Has his unfailing love(M) vanished forever?
    Has his promise(N) failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?(O)
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?(P)

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.(Q)
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles(R) of long ago.
12 I will consider(S) all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”(T)

13 Your ways, God, are holy.
    What god is as great as our God?(U)
14 You are the God who performs miracles;(V)
    you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,(W)
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters(X) saw you, God,
    the waters saw you and writhed;(Y)
    the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,(Z)
    the heavens resounded with thunder;(AA)
    your arrows(AB) flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,(AC)
    your lightning(AD) lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and quaked.(AE)
19 Your path(AF) led through the sea,(AG)
    your way through the mighty waters,
    though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people(AH) like a flock(AI)
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 77:1 In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21.
  2. Psalm 77:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15.