Psalms 77

1 Unto the end. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cried out to the Lord with my voice, to God with my voice, and he attended to me.

To the chief music-maker. After Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A Psalm. I was crying to God with my voice; even to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me.

2 In the days of my tribulation, I sought God, with my hands opposite him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be consoled.

In the day of my trouble, my heart was turned to the Lord: my hand was stretched out in the night without resting; my soul would not be comforted.

3 I was mindful of God, and I was delighted, and I was distressed, and my spirit fell away.

I will keep God in memory, with sounds of grief; my thoughts are troubled, and my spirit is overcome. (Selah)

4 My eyes anticipated the vigils. I was disturbed, and I did not speak.

You keep my eyes from sleep; I am so troubled that no words come.

5 I considered the days of antiquity, and I held the years of eternity in my mind.

My thoughts go back to the days of the past, to the years which are gone.

6 And I meditated in the night with my heart, and I was distressed, and I examined my spirit.

The memory of my song comes back to me in the night; my thoughts are moving in my heart; my spirit is searching with care.

7 So then, will God reject for eternity? Will he not continue to allow himself to show favor?

Will the Lord put me away for ever? will he be kind no longer?

8 Or, will he cut off his mercy in the end, from generation to generation?

Is his mercy quite gone for ever? has his word come to nothing?

9 And would God ever forget to be merciful? Or, would he, in his wrath, restrict his mercies?

Has God put away the memory of his pity? are his mercies shut up by his wrath? (Selah)

10 And I said, “Now I have begun. This change is from the right hand of the Most High.”

And I said, It is a weight on my spirit; but I will keep in mind the years of the right hand of the Most High.

11 I was mindful of the works of the Lord. For I will be mindful from the beginning of your wonders,

I will keep in mind the works of Jah: I will keep the memory of your wonders in the past.

12 and I will meditate on all your works. And I will take part in your intentions.

I will give thought to all your work, while my mind goes over your acts of power.

13 Your way, O God, is in what is holy. Which God is great like our God?

Your way, O God, is holy: what god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles. You have made your virtue known among the peoples.

You are the God who does works of power: you have made your strength clear to the nations.

15 With your arm, you have redeemed your people, the sons of Jacob and of Joseph.

With your arm you have made your people free, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you, and they were afraid, and the depths were stirred up.

The waters saw you, O God; the waters saw you, they were in fear: even the deep was troubled.

17 Great was the sound of the waters. The clouds uttered a voice. For your arrows also pass by.

The clouds sent out water; the skies gave out a sound; truly, your arrows went far and wide.

18 The voice of your thunder is like a wheel. Your flashes have illuminated the whole world. The earth has quaked and trembled.

The voice of your thunder went rolling on; the world was flaming with the light of the storm; the earth was shaking.

19 Your way is through the sea, and your paths are through many waters. And your traces will not be known.

Your way was in the sea, and your road in the great waters; there was no knowledge of your footsteps.

20 You have conducted your people like sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

You were guiding your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.