Psalms 77:6-20

77:6 I said, “During the night I will remember the song I once sang;

I will think very carefully.”

I tried to make sense of what was happening. ¹ 

77:7 I asked, ²  “Will the Lord reject me forever?

Will he never again show me his favor?

77:8 Has his loyal love disappeared forever?

Has his promise ³  failed forever?

77:9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?

Has his anger stifled his compassion?”

77:10 Then I said, “I am sickened by the thought

that the sovereign One ⁴  might become inactive. ⁵ 

77:11 I will remember the works of the Lord.

Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago! ⁶ 

77:12 I will think about all you have done;

I will reflect upon your deeds!”

77:13 ⁷ O God, your deeds are extraordinary! ⁸ 

What god can compare to our great God? ⁹ 

77:14 You are the God who does amazing things;

you have revealed your strength among the nations.

77:15 You delivered ¹⁰  your people by your strength ¹¹  –

the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

77:16 The waters ¹²  saw you, O God,

the waters saw you and trembled. ¹³ 

Yes, the depths of the sea ¹⁴  shook with fear. ¹⁵ 

77:17 The clouds poured down rain; ¹⁶ 

the skies thundered. ¹⁷ 

Yes, your arrows ¹⁸  flashed about.

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

the lightning bolts lit up the world;

the earth trembled and shook. ¹⁹ 

77:19 You walked through the sea; ²⁰ 

you passed through the surging waters, ²¹ 

but left no footprints. ²² 

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

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

[77:6]  ¹ tn Heb “I will remember my song in the night, with my heart I will reflect. And my spirit searched.” As in v. 4, the words of v. 6a are understood as what the psalmist said earlier. Consequently the words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarification (see v. 10). The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive at the beginning of the final line is taken as sequential to the perfect “I thought” in v. 6.

[77:7]  ² tn As in vv. 4 and 6a, the words of vv. 7-9 are understood as a quotation of what the psalmist said earlier. Therefore the words “I asked” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[77:8]  ³ tn Heb “word,” which may refer here to God’s word of promise (note the reference to “loyal love” in the preceding line).

[77:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “Most High.” This divine title (עֶלְיוֹן, ’elyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.

[77:10]  ⁵ tc Heb “And I said, ‘This is my wounding, the changing of the right hand of the Most High.’” The form חַלּוֹתִי (khallotiy) appears to be a Qal infinitive construct (with a first person singular pronominal suffix) from the verbal root חָלַל (khalal, “to pierce; to wound”). The present translation assumes an emendation to חֲלוֹתִי (khalotiy), a Qal infinitive construct (with a first person singular pronominal suffix) from the verbal root חָלָה (khalah, “be sick, weak”). The form שְׁנוֹת (shÿnot) is understood as a Qal infinitive construct from שָׁנָה (shanah, “to change”) rather than a plural noun form, “years” (see v. 5). “Right hand” here symbolizes by metonymy God’s power and activity. The psalmist observes that his real problem is theological in nature. His experience suggests that the sovereign Lord has abandoned him and become inactive. However, this goes against the grain of his most cherished beliefs.

[77:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “yes, I will remember from old your wonders.”

[77:13]  ⁷ sn Verses 13-20 are the content of the psalmist’s reflection (see vv. 11-12). As he thought about God’s work in Israel’s past, he reached the place where he could confidently cry out for God’s help (see v. 1).

[77:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “O God, in holiness [is] your way.” God’s “way” here refers to his actions. “Holiness” is used here in the sense of “set apart, unique,” rather than in a moral/ethical sense. As the next line and the next verse emphasize, God’s deeds are incomparable and set him apart as the one true God.

[77:13]  ⁹ tn Heb “Who [is] a great god like God?” The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “No one!”

[77:15]  ¹⁰ tn Or “redeemed.”

[77:15]  ¹¹ tn Heb “with [your] arm.”

[77:16]  ¹² tn The waters of the Red Sea are here personified; they are portrayed as seeing God and fearing him.

[77:16]  ¹³ tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.

[77:16]  ¹⁴ tn The words “of the sea” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[77:16]  ¹⁵ tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.

[77:17]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “water.”

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

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

[77:18]  ¹⁹ tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.

[77:19]  ²⁰ tn Heb “in the sea [was] your way.”

[77:19]  ²¹ tn Heb “and your paths [were] in the mighty waters.”

[77:19]  ²² tn Heb “and your footprints were not known.”