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.

For the leader. On Jeduthun. Of Asaph, a psalm. Loudly will I lift my cry to God, loudly to God, so he hears 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 I seek the Lord; in the night I lift my hands in prayer, refusing all comfort.

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

When I think of God, I moan; when I muse, my spirit is faint. (Selah)

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

When you hold my eyes awake, and I am restless and speechless,

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

I think of the days of old, call to mind distant years.

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

I commune with my heart in the night, I muse with inquiring spirit.

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

‘Will the Lord cast us off forever, will he be gracious no more?

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

Has his love vanished forever? Is his faithfulness utterly gone?

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

Has God forgotten to be gracious, or in anger withheld his compassion?’ (Selah)

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

Then I said, ‘This it is that grieves me, that the hand of the Most High has changed.’

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

I will think of the deeds of the Lord, and remember your wonders of old.

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

I will muse on all you have wrought, and meditate on your deeds.

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

Then your way, O God, was majestic: what God was great as our God?

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

You were a God who did marvels, you did show your power to the world

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

by your arm you rescued your people, the children 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 and shivered; to their depths they trembled.

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

Clouds poured torrents of water, thunder rolled in the sky, your arrows sped to and fro.

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

Loud was the roll of your thunder, lightnings lit up the world. Earth quaked and trembled.

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

In your way, Lord, through the sea, in your path through the mighty waters, your footsteps were all unseen.

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

You did guide your folk like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.