Remembering God’s Help for Israel

¹ For the music director, on Jeduthun.¹ Of Asaph. A psalm.² I cry out with my voice to God; with my voice to God, that he may hear me.

1. One of David’s musicians (1 Chr 16:41)
2. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one

² In the day I have trouble, I seek¹ the Lord. At night my hand stretches out ⌞continually⌟;² my soul refuses to be comforted.

1. Or “make supplication to”
2. Literally “it does not grow weary”

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 promise¹ ended throughout generations?

1. Hebrew “word”

⁹ Has God forgotten to have compassion? Or has he closed off his mercies in anger? Selah

¹⁰ So I said, “This pierces me—¹ the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

1. Or “this is my sickness”

¹¹ I will remember the deeds of Yah.¹ Surely I will remember your wonders² from long ago.

1. A shortened form of “Yahweh”
2. Hebrew “wonder”

¹² I will also muse on all your work, and meditate on your deeds.

¹³ O God, your way is distinctive.¹ Who is a great god like our God?

1. Or “holy” or “set apart”

¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders;¹ you have made known your might among the peoples.

1. Hebrew “wonder”

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⌟.¹ Your arrows also ⌞flew about⌟.²

1. Literally “gave voice”
2. Literally “walked back and forth”

¹⁸ The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;¹ lightnings lit the world; the earth shook and quaked.

1. Or “in your chariot wheel”

¹⁹ Your way was through the sea, and your path¹ through many waters. Yet your footprints were not discerned.²

1. According to the reading tradition (Qere)
2. Hebrew “were not known”

²⁰ You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.