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To the director: To Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.

Remembering God in Times of Trouble

77 I cry out to God!
    I cry out to God and he hears me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
    my hands were raised at night
and they did not grow weary.
        I refused to be comforted.
I remember God, and I groan;
    I meditate, while my spirit grows faint.
Interlude

You kept my eyes open;
    I was troubled and couldn’t speak.
I thought of ancient times,
    considering years long past.
During the night I remembered my song.
    I meditate in my heart,
        and my spirit ponders.

Will the Lord reject me[a] forever
    and not show favor again?
Has his gracious love ceased forever?
    Will his promise be unfulfilled in future generations?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?
Interlude

10 So I say: “It causes me pain
    that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

11 I will remember the Lord’s deeds;
    indeed, I will remember your awesome deeds from long ago.

12 As I meditate on all your works,
    I will consider your awesome deeds.

13 God, your way is holy.
    What god is like our great God?
14 God, you are the one performing awesome deeds.
    You reveal your might among the nations.
15 You delivered[b] your people—
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph—
        with your power.
Interlude

16 The waters saw you, God;
    the waters saw you and writhed.
        Indeed, the depths of the sea quaked.
17 The clouds poured rain;
    the skies rumbled.
        Indeed, your lightning bolts flashed.[c]

18 Your thunderous sound was in a whirlwind;
    your lightning lights up the world;
        the earth becomes agitated and quakes.

19 Your way was through the sea,
    and your path through mighty waters,
        but your footprints cannot be traced.[d]
20 You have led your people like a flock
    by the hands of Moses and Aaron.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 77:7 The Heb. lacks me
  2. Psalm 77:15 Or redeemed
  3. Psalm 77:17 Lit. your fierce arrows traveled
  4. Psalm 77:19 Lit. steps are not recognized

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.