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Asaph wrote this song for the music leader, Jeduthun.

A prayer in times of trouble[a]

77 I will call out to God for help.
I will call aloud to God,
    and he will listen to me.
When trouble came to me,
    I looked for the Lord to help me.
All through the night,
    I lifted my hands to him while I prayed.
But I did not feel peace in myself.
When I think about God,
    I am sad and upset.
I do not know if he will help me.
Selah.
God, you do not let me close my eyes to sleep.
    I am so upset that I cannot even speak.[b]
I think about my life long ago,
    in the years that have passed.
At night, I remember the songs that I sang before.
    I think carefully about what is happening.
I ask myself, ‘Will the Lord always turn against me?
    Will he never be kind to me again?
Does he no longer have a faithful love for his people?
    Will he never do what he has promised us?
Has God forgotten to be kind and help us?
    Is he so angry that he will not be kind to us any more?’[c]
Selah.
10 Then I said, ‘This makes me very upset!
    Has the Most High God stopped helping us?
11 I will remember the things that the Lord has done.
Yes, I will remember the miracles that you did long ago.
12 I will think about everything that you have done.
    I will think carefully about all those great things.’
13 God, your ways are holy.
    There is no god as great as our God.
14 You are the God who does miracles.
You show the nations
    that you are very powerful.
15 You used your power to rescue your people.
Yes, you saved the descendants
    of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah.
16 The waters of the sea saw you, God.
When they saw you,
    they shook with fear!
Even the deepest seas were afraid.
17 Rain poured down from the clouds.
The noise of thunder was in the skies.
Your arrows of lightning
    shot everywhere.
18 The sound of your thunder was in the storm.
Your lightning made all the world bright.
The earth shook.
19 You went through the sea.
Your path went through the deep water,
    but nobody saw where your feet had gone.
20 You led your people,
    as a shepherd leads his sheep.
Moses and Aaron did that for you.

Footnotes

  1. 77:1 In verses 10-15, the writer remembers the great things that God has done. He remembers that God is still great and powerful. Verses 16-20 are about God leading his people from Egypt to their new home in Canaan. They had to go through the Red Sea. God was so powerful that he made a dry road through the sea for his people. After they crossed the Red Sea, Moses and Aaron led them through the wilderness.
  2. 77:4 The writer cannot sleep and he does not know what to pray.
  3. 77:9 There are 6 questions which the writer asked. They mean, ‘Will God ever help us again?’

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.