Psalms 77

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

For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph. My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me.

2 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.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.

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

I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. (Selah)

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

You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak.

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

I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

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

I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently enquires:

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

“Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favourable no more?

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

Has his loving kindness vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations?

9 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?”

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

10 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.”

Then I thought, “I will appeal to this: the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

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

I will remember the LORD’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.

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

I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.

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

Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God?

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

You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known amongst the peoples.

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

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

16 [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.

The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.

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

The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.

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

The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

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

Your way was through the sea, your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known.

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

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