Psalms 77

1 Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of Asaph. I cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he gave ear 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 day of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be comforted:

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night I lift my hands in prayer, refusing all comfort.

3 I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my spirit swooned away.

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

4 My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not.

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

5 I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal years.

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

6 And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.

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

7 Will God then cast off for ever? or will he never be more favourable again?

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

8 Or will he cut off his mercy for ever, from generation to generation?

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

9 Or will God forget to shew mercy? or will he in his anger shut up his mercies?

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

10 And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of 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 remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of thy wonders from the beginning.

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

12 And I will meditate on all thy works: and will be employed in thy inventions.

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

13 Thy way, O God, is in the holy place: who is the great God like our God?

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

14 Thou art the God that dost wonders. Thou hast made thy power known among the nations:

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

15 With thy arm thou hast redeemed thy people the children of Jacob and of Joseph.

by your arm you rescued your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee: and they were afraid, and the depths were troubled.

The waters saw you, O God. The waters saw you and shivered; to their depths they trembled.

17 Great was the noise of the waters: the clouds sent out a sound. For thy arrows pass:

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

18 The voice of thy thunder in a wheel. Thy lightnings enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled.

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

19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters: and thy footsteps shall not be known.

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

20 Thou hast conducted thy 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.