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 chief musician; after the manner of Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph. I will call out with my voice to God; I will call with my voice to God, and my God will hear 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 sought the Lord; at night I stretched my hands out, and they would not become tired. My soul refused to be comforted.

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

I thought of God as I groaned; I thought about him as I grew faint. (Selah)

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

You held my eyes open; I was too troubled to speak.

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

I thought about the days of old, about times long past.

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

During the night I called to mind the song I once sang. I thought carefully and tried to understand what had happened.

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

Will the Lord reject me forever? Will he never again show me favor?

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

Was his covenant faithfulness gone forever? Had his promise failed forever?

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

Had God forgotten to be gracious? Had his anger shut off his compassion? (Selah)

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

I said, “This is my sorrow: the changing of the right hand of the Most High toward us.”

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

But I will call to mind your deeds, Yahweh; I will think about your wonderful deeds of old.

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

I will ponder all your deeds and will reflect on them.

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

Your way, God, is holy; what god compares to our great God?

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

You are the God who does wonders; you have revealed your strength among the peoples.

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

You gave your people victory by your great power— the descendants 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, God; the waters saw you, and they were afraid; the depths trembled.

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

The clouds poured down water; the cloudy skies gave voice; your arrows flew about.

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

Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.

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

Your path went through the sea and your way through the surging waters, but your footprints were not seen.

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

You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.