Psalms
Chapter 77
1
1 For the leader; al Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.
2
I cry aloud to God, cry to God to hear me.
3
On the day of my distress I seek the Lord; by night my hands are raised unceasingly; I refuse to be consoled.
4
When I think of God, I groan; as I ponder, my spirit grows faint. Selah
5
My eyes cannot close in sleep; I am troubled and cannot speak.
6
I consider the days of old; the years long past
7
I remember. In the night I meditate in my heart; I ponder and my spirit broods:
8
"Will the Lord reject us forever, never again show favor?
9
Has God's love ceased forever? Has the promise failed for all ages?
10
Has God forgotten mercy, in anger withheld compassion?" Selah
11
2 I conclude: "My sorrow is this, the right hand of the Most High has left us."
12
3 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, your wonders of old I will remember.
13
I will recite all your works; your exploits I will tell.
14
Your way, O God, is holy; what god is as great as our God?
15
You alone are the God who did wonders; among the peoples you revealed your might.
16
With your arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
17
The waters saw you, God; the waters saw you and lashed about, trembled even to their depths.
18
The clouds poured down their rains; the thunderheads rumbled; your arrows flashed back and forth.
19
The thunder of your chariot wheels resounded; your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
20
Through the sea was your path; your way, through the mighty waters, though your footsteps were unseen.
21
You led your people like a flock under the care of Moses and Aaron.
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Footnotes

1 [Psalm 77] A community lament in which the speaker ("I") describes the anguish of Israel at God's silence when its very existence is at stake (Psalm 77:2-11). In response the speaker recites the story of how God brought the people into existence (Psalm 77:12-20). The question is thus posed to God: Will you allow the people you created to be destroyed?

2 [11] I conclude: literally, "I said." The psalmist, after pondering the present distress and God's promises to Israel, has decided that God has forgotten the people.

3 [12] I will remember: the verb sometimes means to make present the great deeds of Israel's past by reciting them. Cf Psalm 78:42; 105:5; 106:7.


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