Psalms 77:16-20

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 

77:19 You walked through the sea; ⁹ 

you passed through the surging waters, ¹⁰ 

but left no footprints. ¹¹ 

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

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

[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.

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

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

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