Psalms 77

1 For the end, for Idithun, a Psalm of Asaph. I cried to the Lord with my voice, yes, my voice [was addressed] to God; and he gave heed to me.

I cry out to God; I cry aloud to him, and he hears me.

2 In the day of mine affliction I earnestly sought the Lord; [even] with my hands by night before him, and I was not deceived; my soul refused to be comforted.

Whenever have trouble, I pray to the Lord; all during the night I lift up my hands while I pray, [but] nothing causes me to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and rejoiced; I poured out my complaint, and my soul fainted. (Pause)

When I think about God, I (despair/think that he will never help me); when I meditate about him, I am discouraged.

4 All mine enemies set a watch [against me]: I was troubled, and spoke not.

[All during the night] he prevents me from sleeping; I am very worried, with the result that I do not know what to say.

5 I considered the days of old, and remembered ancient years.

I think about days that have passed; I remember [what happened in] previous years.

6 And I meditated; I communed with my heart by night, and diligently searched my spirit, [saying],

I spend the whole night thinking [about things]; I meditate, and this is what I ask myself:

7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be well pleased no more?

“Will the Lord always reject us? Will he never again be pleased with us?

8 Will he cut off his mercy for ever, even for ever and ever?

Has he stopped faithfully loving us? Will he not do for us what he promised to do?

9 Will God forget to pity? or will he shut up his compassions in his wrath? (Pause)

God promised to be merciful to us; has he forgotten that? Because he is angry [with us], has he decided to not be kind to us?”

10 And I said, Now I have begun; this is the change of the right hand of the Most High.

Then I said, “What causes me to be [very] sad is that [it seems that] God, who is greater than any other god, is no longer powerful.”

11 I remembered the works of the Lord; for I will remember your wonders from the beginning.

[But then], Yahweh, I recall/remember your great deeds; I remember the wonderful things that you did in the past.

12 And I will meditate on all your works, and will consider your doings.

I meditate on all that you have done, and I think about your mighty acts.

13 O God, your way is in the sanctuary; who is a great God as our God?

God, everything that you do is holy; there is certainly no god [RHQ] who is great like you are!

14 You are the God that do wonders; you have made known your power among the nations.

You are God, the one who performs miracles; you showed to people of many people-groups that you are powerful.

15 You have with your arm redeemed your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. (Pause)

By your power [MTY] you rescued your people [from Egypt]; you saved those who were descendants of Jacob and [his son] Joseph.

16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you, and feared; and the depths were troubled.

[It was as though] the waters [of the Red Sea] saw you and became very afraid, and even the deepest part of the water shook.

17 [There was] an abundant sound of waters: the clouds uttered a voice; for your arrows went abroad.

Rain poured down from the clouds [PRS]; it thundered [very loudly] [PRS], and lightning flashed in all directions.

18 The voice of your thunder was abroad, and around your lightnings appeared to the world; the earth trembled a quaked.

Thunder crashed in the whirlwind, and lightning (lit up/flashed across) the entire sky [HYP]; the earth shook violently [DOU].

19 Your way is in the sea, and your paths in many waters, and your footsteps can’t be known.

[Then] you walked through the sea on a path that you made through the deep water, but your footprints could not be seen.

20 You did guide your people as sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

You led your people like [a shepherd leads his] flock [of sheep], while Moses and Aaron were the leaders [of your people].