Psalms 77:16-19

Context

77:16 The waters¹ saw you, O God,

the waters saw you and trembled.²

Yes, the depths of the sea³ shook with fear.⁴

77:17 The clouds poured down rain;⁵

the skies thundered.⁶

Yes, your arrows⁷ 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

77:19 You walked through the sea;⁹

you passed through the surging waters,¹⁰

but left no footprints.¹¹

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

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

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

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

[77:17] ⁵tn Heb “water.”

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

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

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

[77:19] ⁹tn Heb “in the sea [was] your way.”

[77:19] ¹⁰tn Heb “and your paths [were] in the mighty waters.”

[77:19] ¹¹tn Heb “and your footprints were not known.”