Psalms 77:15-20

Context

77:15 You delivered¹ your people by your strength² –

the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

77:16 The waters³ saw you, O God,

the waters saw you and trembled.⁴

Yes, the depths of the sea⁵ shook with fear.⁶

77:17 The clouds poured down rain;⁷

the skies thundered.⁸

Yes, your arrows⁹ flashed about.

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

the lightning bolts lit up the world;

the earth trembled and shook.¹⁰

77:19 You walked through the sea;¹¹

you passed through the surging waters,¹²

but left no footprints.¹³

77:20 You led your people like a flock of sheep,

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

[77:15] ¹tn Or “redeemed.”

[77:15] ²tn Heb “with [your] arm.”

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

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

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

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

[77:17] ⁷tn Heb “water.”

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

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

[77:18] ¹⁰tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.

[77:19] ¹¹tn Heb “in the sea [was] your way.”

[77:19] ¹²tn Heb “and your paths [were] in the mighty waters.”

[77:19] ¹³tn Heb “and your footprints were not known.”