Psalm 77

Confidence in a Time of Crisis

For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph.(A) A psalm.

I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and He will hear me.(B)
I sought the Lord in my day of trouble.
My hands were continually lifted up
all night long;
I refused to be comforted.(C)
I think of God; I groan;
I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.(D)Selah

You have kept me from closing my eyes;
I am troubled and cannot speak.(E)
I consider days of old,
years long past.(F)
At night I remember my music;
I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.(G)

“Will the Lord reject forever
and never again show favor?(H)
Has His faithful love ceased forever?
Is His promise at an end for all generations?(I)
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger withheld His compassion?”(J)Selah

10 So I say, “I am grieved[a]
that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”(K)
11 I will remember the Lord’s works;
yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders.(L)
12 I will reflect on all You have done
and meditate on Your actions.(M)

13 God, Your way is holy.
What god is great like God?(N)
14 You are the God who works wonders;
You revealed Your strength among the peoples.(O)
15 With power You redeemed Your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.(P)Selah

16 The waters saw You, God.
The waters saw You; they trembled.
Even the depths shook.(Q)
17 The clouds poured down water.
The storm clouds thundered;
Your arrows flashed back and forth.(R)
18 The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
lightning lit up the world.(S)
The earth shook and quaked.(T)
19 Your way went through the sea
and Your path through the great waters,
but Your footprints were unseen.(U)
20 You led Your people like a flock(V)
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.(W)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 77:10 Lit “My piercing

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