Remembering God’s Help for Israel
For the music director, on Jeduthun.One of David’s musicians (1 Chr 16:41)
Of Asaph. A psalm.The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
1 I cry out with my voice to God;
with my voice to God, that he may hear me.
2 In the day I have trouble, I seekOr "make supplication to" the Lord.
At night my hand stretches out continually;Literally "it does not grow weary"
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 I remember God and I groan loudly;
I meditate and my spirit grows faint.
4 You hold open my eyelids.
I am troubled and cannot speak.
5 I think about the days from long ago,
the years of ancient times.
6 I remember my song in the night.
With my heart I meditate,
and my spirit searches to understand.
7 Will the Lord reject us forever,
and will he never be pleased with us again?
8 Has his loyal love ceased forever?
Is his promiseHebrew "word" ended throughout generations?
9 Has God forgotten to have compassion?
Or has he closed off his mercies in anger? Selah
10 So I said, "This pierces me—Or "this is my sickness"
the right hand of the Most High has changed."
11 I will remember the deeds of Yah.A shortened form of "Yahweh"
Surely I will remember your wondersHebrew "wonder" from long ago.
12 I will also muse on all your work,
and meditate on your deeds.
13 O God, your way is distinctive.Or "holy" or "set apart"
Who is a great god like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;Hebrew "wonder"
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 With your arm you redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 Waters saw you, O God;
waters saw you and they trembled.
Surely the deeps shook.
17 The clouds poured out water.
The skies thundered.Literally "gave voice"
Your arrows also flew about.Literally "walked back and forth"
18 The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;Or "in your chariot wheel"
lightnings lit the world;
the earth shook and quaked.
19 Your way was through the sea,
and your pathAccording to the reading tradition (Qere) through many waters.
Yet your footprints were not discerned.Hebrew "were not known"
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.