Psalm 77

Psalm 77

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph.

1 I cry out to God; yes, I shout.
Oh, that God would listen to me!2 When I was in deep trouble,
I searched for the Lord.
All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,
but my soul was not comforted.3 I think of God, and I moan,
overwhelmed with longing for his help.
Interlude4 You don’t let me sleep.
I am too distressed even to pray!5 I think of the good old days,
long since ended,6 when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
I search my soul and ponder the difference now.7 Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?8 Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion?
Interlude10 And I said, “This is my fate;
the Most High has turned his hand against me.”11 But then I recall all you have done, O LORD;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.12 They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.13 O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you?14 You are the God of great wonders!
You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.15 By your strong arm, you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Interlude16 When the Red Seat saw you, O God,
its waters looked and trembled!
The sea quaked to its very depths.17 The clouds poured down rain;
the thunder rumbled in the sky.
Your arrows of lightning flashed.18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world!
The earth trembled and shook.19 Your road led through the sea,
your pathway through the mighty waters—
a pathway no one knew was there!20 You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.

PSALMS 77

In Times of Trouble //God Is with His People

1 I pray to you, Lord God,
and I beg you to listen.

2 In days filled with trouble,
I search for you.
And at night I tirelessly
lift my hands in prayer,
refusing comfort.

3 When I think of you,
I feel restless and weak.

4 Because of you, Lord God,
I can't sleep.
I am restless
and can't even talk.

5 I think of times gone by,
of those years long ago.

6 Each night my mind
is flooded with questions:t

7 “Have you rejected me forever?
Won't you be kind again?

8 Is this the end of your love
and your promises?

9 Have you forgotten
how to have pity?
Do you refuse to show mercy
because of your anger?”

10 Then I said, “God Most High,
what hurts me most
is that you no longer help us
with your mighty arm.”

11 Our [Lord], I will remember
the things you have done,
your miracles of long ago.

12 I will think about each one
of your mighty deeds.

13 Everything you do is right,
and no other god
compares with you.

14 You alone work miracles,
and you have let nations
see your mighty power.

15 With your own arm you rescued
your people, the descendants
of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The ocean looked at you, God,
and it trembled deep down
with fear.

17 Water flowed from the clouds.
Thunder was heard above
as your arrows of lightning
flashed about.

18 Your thunder roared
like chariot wheels.
The world was made bright
by lightning,
and all the earth trembled.

19 You walked through the water
of the mighty sea,
but your footprints
were never seen.

20 You guided your people
like a flock of sheep,
and you chose Moses and Aaron
to be their leaders.