Psalms 77

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

1I called out to God for help. I cried out loud, 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 to the Lord. All night I held my hands up to him. I did not stop. But my heart would not feel better.

NoteThe old King James words say "my sore ran in the night," which is hard to follow today. The Hebrew means he reached his hands out to God all night and did not stop.

3I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

3I thought about God, and I groaned. I kept thinking, and I felt weak inside. Selah.

Note"Selah" is a word that shows up in the songs of the Bible. Nobody today knows exactly what it meant. It may have marked a pause or a place for music.

4Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

4You kept my eyes from closing. I was too upset to say anything.

5I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

5I thought about days long ago. I thought about years that passed long before now.

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 my song. I thought quietly in my heart. My spirit 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 be kind to us again?

8Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

8Is his faithful love gone for good? Has his promise failed 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 mercy? 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. The strong right hand of the Most High has changed."

NoteThis verse is hard to read in the old Hebrew. The King James Version says the writer will remember God's strong right hand. Other translations say the writer is sad because that strong hand has changed.

11I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

11I will remember what the LORD has done. Yes, I will remember his wonders from long ago.

12I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

12I will think about everything you have done. I will talk about your great deeds.

13Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

13Your way, God, 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 show your strength to all the peoples.

15Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

15With your strong arm you set your people free. They are 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 shook. Even the deep sea trembled.

17The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

17The clouds poured down rain. Thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed everywhere.

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 wind. Lightning lit up the whole world. The earth shook and trembled.

19Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

19Your path went right through the sea. You made a way through the deep waters. But no one could see 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. Moses and Aaron guided them for you.