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To the director, Jeduthun.[a] One of Asaph’s songs.

77 I cry out to God for help.
    I cry out to you, God; listen to me!
My Lord, in my time of trouble I came to you.
    I reached out for you all night long.
    My soul refused to be comforted.
I thought about you, God,
    and tried to tell you how I felt, but I could not.
You would not let me sleep.
    I tried to say something, but I was too upset.
I kept thinking about the past,
    about things that happened long ago.
During the night, I thought about my songs.
    I talked to myself, trying to understand what is happening.
I wondered, “Has our Lord rejected us forever?
    Will he ever accept us again?
Is his love gone forever?
    Will he never again speak to us?
Has God forgotten what mercy is?
    Has his compassion changed to anger?” Selah

10 Then I said to myself, “What bothers me most is the thought
    that God Most High has lost his power.”

11 Lord, I remember what you have done.
    I remember the amazing things you did long ago.
12 I think about those things.
    I think about them all the time.
13 God, all that you do is holy.
    No god is as great as you are.
14 You are the God who does amazing things.
    You showed the nations your great power.
15 By your power you saved your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16 God, the water saw you and became afraid.
    The deep water shook with fear.
17 The thick clouds dropped their water.
    Thunder roared in the sky above.
    Your arrows of lightning flashed through the clouds.
18 There were loud claps of thunder.
    Lightning lit up the world.
    The earth shook and trembled.
19 You walked through the water and crossed the deep sea,
    but you left no footprints.
20 You led your people like sheep,
    using Moses and Aaron to guide them.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 77:1 Psalm 77 Jeduthun Or “and to Jeduthun,” one of the three main temple musicians. See 1 Chron. 9:16; 16:38-42.

The Consoling Memory of God’s Redemptive Works

To the Chief Musician. (A)To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

77 I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah

You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old,
The years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night;
I meditate within my heart,
And my spirit [a]makes diligent search.

Will the Lord cast off forever?
And will He be favorable no more?
Has His mercy ceased forever?
Has His (B)promise failed [b]forevermore?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah

10 And I said, “This is my [c]anguish;
But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember the works of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is in [d]the (C)sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
14 You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16 The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were (D)afraid;
The depths also trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;
Your arrows also flashed about.
18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known.
20 You led Your people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 77:6 ponders diligently
  2. Psalm 77:8 Lit. unto generation and generation
  3. Psalm 77:10 Lit. infirmity
  4. Psalm 77:13 Or holiness

God’s Mighty Deeds Recalled

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

77 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, that he may hear me.
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
    in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
    my soul refuses to be comforted.

I think of God, and I moan;
    I meditate, and my spirit faints.Selah
Thou dost hold my eyelids from closing;
    I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I consider the days of old,
    I remember the years long ago.
I commune[a] with my heart in the night;
    I meditate and search my spirit:[b]
“Will the Lord spurn for ever,
    and never again be favorable?
Has his steadfast love for ever ceased?
    Are his promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he in anger shut up his compassion?”Selah
10 And I say, “It is my grief
    that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;
    yea, I will remember thy wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all thy work,
    and muse on thy mighty deeds.
13 Thy way, O God, is holy.
    What god is great like our God?
14 Thou art the God who workest wonders,
    who hast manifested thy might among the peoples.
15 Thou didst with thy arm redeem thy people,
    the sons of Jacob and Joseph.Selah

16 When the waters saw thee, O God,
    when the waters saw thee, they were afraid,
    yea, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
    the skies gave forth thunder;
    thy arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of thy thunder was in the whirlwind;
    thy lightnings lighted up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
19 Thy way was through the sea,
    thy path through the great waters;
    yet thy footprints were unseen.
20 Thou didst lead thy people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 77:6 Gk Syr: Heb my music
  2. Psalm 77:6 Syr Jerome: Heb my spirit searches

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.