Psalms 77:15-17

77:15 You delivered ¹  your people by your strength ²  –

the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

77:16 The waters ³  saw you, O God,

the waters saw you and trembled. ⁴ 

Yes, the depths of the sea ⁵  shook with fear. ⁶ 

77:17 The clouds poured down rain; ⁷ 

the skies thundered. ⁸ 

Yes, your arrows ⁹  flashed about.

[77:15]  ¹ tn Or “redeemed.”

[77:15]  ² tn Heb “with [your] arm.”

[77:16]  ³ tn The waters of the Red Sea are here personified; they are portrayed as seeing God and fearing him.

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

[77:16]  ⁵ tn The words “of the sea” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[77:16]  ⁶ tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.

[77:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “water.”

[77:17]  ⁸ tn Heb “a sound the clouds gave.”

[77:17]  ⁹ tn The lightning accompanying the storm is portrayed as the Lord’s “arrows” (see v. 18).