Logos Bible Study

Psalm 77:2–12

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77:2In my time of trouble I sought3 the Lord.

I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night.4

I5 refused to be comforted.

77:3I said, “I will remember God while I groan;

I will think about him while my strength leaves me.”6

(Selah)

77:4You held my eyelids open;7

I was troubled and could not speak.8

77:5I thought about the days of old,

about ancient times.9

77:6I 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.10

77:7I asked,11 “Will the Lord reject me forever?

Will he never again show me his favor?

77:8Has his loyal love disappeared forever?

Has his promise12 failed forever?

77:9Has God forgotten to be merciful?

Has his anger stifled his compassion?”

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

that the sovereign One13 might become inactive.14

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

Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago!15

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

I will reflect upon your deeds!”

Read in Logos
Psalm 77:5: I consider the days of old, the years long ago.

Footnotes

  1. 3 Here the psalmist refers back to the very recent past, when he began to pray for divine help.
  2. 4 Heb “my hand [at] night was extended and was not growing numb.” The verb נָגַר (nagar), which can mean “flow” in certain contexts, here has the nuance “be extended.” The imperfect form (תָפוּג, tafug, “to be numb”) is used here to describe continuous action in the past.
  3. 5 Or “my soul.” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) with a pronominal suffix is often equivalent to a pronoun, especially in poetry (see 660 נֶפֶשׁ 4.a).
  4. 6 Heb “I will remember God and I will groan, I will reflect and my spirit will grow faint.” The first three verbs are cohortatives, the last a perfect with vav (ו) consecutive. The psalmist’s statement in v. 4 could be understood as concurrent with v. 1, or, more likely, as a quotation of what he had said earlier as he prayed to God (see v. 2). The words “I said” are supplied in the translation at the beginning of the verse to reflect this interpretation (see v. 10).
  5. 7 Heb “you held fast the guards of my eyes.” The “guards of the eyes” apparently refers to his eyelids. The psalmist seems to be saying that God would not bring him relief, which would have allowed him to shut his eyes and get some sleep (see v. 2).
  6. 8 The imperfect is used in the second clause to emphasize that this was an ongoing condition in the past.
  7. 9 Heb “the years of antiquity.”
  8. 10 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.
  9. 11 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.
  10. 12 Heb “word,” which may refer here to God’s word of promise (note the reference to “loyal love” in the preceding line).
  11. 13 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.
  12. 14 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 (shénot) 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.
  13. 15 Heb “yes, I will remember from old your wonders.” The psalmist refuses to allow skepticism to win out. God has revealed himself to his people in tangible, incontrovertible ways in the past and the psalmist vows to remember the historical record as a source of hope for the future.

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;

in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;

my soul refuses to be comforted.

When I remember God, I moan;

when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

You hold my eyelids open;

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I consider the days of old,

the years long ago.

I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;

let me meditate in my heart.”

Then my spirit made a diligent search:

“Will the Lord spurn forever,

and never again be favorable?

Has his steadfast love forever ceased?

Are his promises at an end for all time?

Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

Then I said, “I will appeal to this,

to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;

at night I stretched out untiring hands,

and I would not be comforted.

I remembered you, God, and I groaned;

I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.

You kept my eyes from closing;

I was too troubled to speak.

I thought about the former days,

the years of long ago;

I remembered my songs in the night.

My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

“Will the Lord reject forever?

Will he never show his favor again?

Has his unfailing love vanished forever?

Has his promise failed for all time?

Has God forgotten to be merciful?

Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:

the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

I will consider all your works

and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I sought the Lord in my day of trouble.

My hands were continually lifted up

all night long;

I refused to be comforted.

I think of God; I groan;

I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.

Selah

You have kept me from closing my eyes;

I am troubled and cannot speak.

I consider days of old,

years long past.

At night I remember my music;

I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.

“Will the Lord reject forever

and never again show favor?

Has his faithful love ceased forever?

Is his promise at an end for all generations?

Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Selah

So I say, “I am grieved

that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

I will remember the Lord’s works;

yes, I will remember your ancient wonders.

I will reflect on all you have done

and meditate on your actions.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

When I was in deep trouble,

I searched for the Lord.

All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,

but my soul was not comforted.

I think of God, and I moan,

overwhelmed with longing for his help.

Interlude

You don’t let me sleep.

I am too distressed even to pray!

I think of the good old days,

long since ended,

when my nights were filled with joyful songs.

I search my soul and ponder the difference now.

Has the Lord rejected me forever?

Will he never again be kind to me?

Is his unfailing love gone forever?

Have his promises permanently failed?

Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has he slammed the door on his compassion?

Interlude

And I said, “This is my fate;

the Most High has turned his hand against me.”

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;

I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

They are constantly in my thoughts.

I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

In the day I have trouble, I seek the Lord.

At night my hand stretches out continually;

my soul refuses to be comforted.

I remember God and I groan loudly;

I meditate and my spirit grows faint. Selah

You hold open my eyelids.

I am troubled and cannot speak.

I think about the days from long ago,

the years of ancient times.

I remember my song in the night.

With my heart I meditate,

and my spirit searches to understand.

Will the Lord reject us forever,

and will he never be pleased with us again?

Has his loyal love ceased forever?

Is his promise ended throughout generations?

Has God forgotten to have compassion?

Or has he closed off his mercies in anger? Selah

So I said, “This pierces me—

the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

I will remember the deeds of Yah.

Surely I will remember your wonders from long ago.

I will also muse on all your work,

and meditate on your deeds.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord:

My sore ran in the night, and ceased not:

My soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered God, and was troubled:

I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

Thou holdest mine eyes waking:

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I have considered the days of old,

The years of ancient times.

I call to remembrance my song in the night:

I commune with mine own heart:

And my spirit made diligent search.

Will the Lord cast off for ever?

And will he be favourable no more?

Is his mercy clean gone for ever?

Doth his promise fail for evermore?

Hath God forgotten to be gracious?

Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

And I said, This is my infirmity:

But I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

I will remember the works of the Lord:

Surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

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