Psalms 77:16-18

77:16 The waters ¹  saw you, O God,

the waters saw you and trembled. ² 

Yes, the depths of the sea ³  shook with fear. ⁴ 

77:17 The clouds poured down rain; ⁵ 

the skies thundered. ⁶ 

Yes, your arrows ⁷  flashed about.

77:18 Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;

the lightning bolts lit up the world;

the earth trembled and shook. ⁸ 

[77:16]  ¹ tn The waters of the Red Sea are here personified; they are portrayed as seeing God and fearing him.

[77:16]  ² tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.

[77:16]  ³ tn The words “of the sea” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[77:16]  ⁴ tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.

[77:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “water.”

[77:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “a sound the clouds gave.”

[77:17]  ⁷ tn The lightning accompanying the storm is portrayed as the Lord’s “arrows” (see v. 18).

[77:18]  ⁸ tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.