Psalms
Chapter 77
The writer cannot sleep and cries out to God in deep trouble, asking whether God has stopped loving and helping his people forever. He decides to remember what God has done in the past instead. The second half recalls God's power over the waters, with thunder, lightning, and a shaking earth, and ends with God leading his people through the sea by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
1I cried out loud to God. I cried out loud to God, and he listened to me.
2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
2When I was in trouble, I looked for the Lord. All night I reached out my hands and did not stop. I would not let anyone comfort me.
The KJV says "my sore ran in the night." It is not about a wound. The Hebrew word means a hand held out, so the picture is of hands stretched out in prayer all night long.
3I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
3I thought about God, and I groaned. I said my troubles out loud, and I felt weak inside. Selah.
"Selah" appears here and in verses 9 and 15. No one knows for certain what it meant. It was probably a mark for the musicians, like a pause or a change in the music.
4Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
4You keep my eyes from closing. I am so upset that I cannot speak.
5I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
5I thought about the days long ago, about years that are far in the past.
6I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
6At night I remembered the songs I used to sing. I talked things over in my heart and searched hard for answers.
7Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
7Will the Lord push us away forever? Will he never again be kind to us?
8Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
8Is his faithful love gone for good? Has his promise ended for all time?
9Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
9Has God forgotten how to be kind? Has his anger shut off his care for us? Selah.
10And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
10Then I said, "This is what hurts me: that the strong right hand of the Most High has changed."
This verse is hard to read in Hebrew, and translators do not agree on it. The KJV takes it as "this is my weakness, but I will remember God's power." Others take it as "what hurts me is that God's power seems changed."
11I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
11I will remember the things the LORD has done. Yes, I will remember the wonders you did long ago.
12I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
12I will think carefully about everything you have done. I will talk about your mighty acts.
13Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
13God, everything you do is holy. What god is as great as our God?
14Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
14You are the God who does wonders. You have shown your strength to the nations.
15Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
15With your strong arm you set your people free, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
16The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you and churned. Even the deep sea shook.
17The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
17The clouds poured down rain. The sky rumbled loudly. Your arrows flashed in every direction.
18The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
18Your thunder crashed in the storm. Lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.
19Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
19Your road went through the sea. Your path went through the deep water. But no one could find your footprints.
20Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
20You led your people like a flock of sheep, through Moses and Aaron.
← → to turn the page · P for plain English · click a verse to sit with it