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For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph.

77 My cry goes to God!
    Indeed, I cry to God for help,
    and for him to listen to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.
    My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired.
    My soul refused to be comforted.
I remember God, and I groan.
    I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.

You hold my eyelids open.
    I am so troubled that I can’t speak.
I have considered the days of old,
    the years of ancient times.
I remember my song in the night.
    I consider in my own heart;
    my spirit diligently inquires:
“Will the Lord reject us forever?
    Will he be favorable no more?
Has his loving kindness vanished forever?
    Does his promise fail for generations?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.
10 Then I thought, “I will appeal to this:
    the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember Yah’s deeds;
    for I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will also meditate on all your work,
    and consider your doings.
13 Your way, God, is in the sanctuary.
    What god is great like God?
14 You are the God who does wonders.
    You have made your strength known among the peoples.
15 You have redeemed your people with your arm,
    the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16 The waters saw you, God.
    The waters saw you, and they writhed.
    The depths also convulsed.
17 The clouds poured out water.
    The skies resounded with thunder.
    Your arrows also flashed around.
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 through the sea;
    your paths through the great waters.
    Your footsteps were not known.
20 You led your people like a flock,
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 77

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph.

I cry out to God; yes, I shout.
    Oh, that God would listen to me!
When I was in deep trouble,
    I searched for the Lord.
All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,
    but my soul was not comforted.
I think of God, and I moan,
    overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude

You don’t let me sleep.
    I am too distressed even to pray!
I think of the good old days,
    long since ended,
when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
    I search my soul and ponder the difference now.
Has the Lord rejected me forever?
    Will he never again be kind to me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
    Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude

10 And I said, “This is my fate;
    the Most High has turned his hand against me.”
11 But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
    I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
12 They are constantly in my thoughts.
    I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

13 O God, your ways are holy.
    Is there any god as mighty as you?
14 You are the God of great wonders!
    You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.
15 By your strong arm, you redeemed your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude

16 When the Red Sea[a] saw you, O God,
    its waters looked and trembled!
    The sea quaked to its very depths.
17 The clouds poured down rain;
    the thunder rumbled in the sky.
    Your arrows of lightning flashed.
18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
    the lightning lit up the world!
    The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your road led through the sea,
    your pathway through the mighty waters—
    a pathway no one knew was there!
20 You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
    with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.

Footnotes

  1. 77:16 Hebrew the waters.

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.