Corpus Psalterium · Vol. IV
Psalm LXXVII (77)
Cantillated — Lament Turning
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 77 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־ידיתון לְאָסָ֥ף מִזְמֽוֹר׃
My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me.
קוֹלִ֣י אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים וְאֶצְעָ֑קָה קוֹלִ֥י אֶל־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים וְהַאֲזִ֥ין אֵלָֽי׃
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.
בְּי֥וֹם צָרָתִי֮ אֲדֹנָ֪י דָּ֫רָ֥שְׁתִּי יָדִ֤י ׀ לַ֣יְלָה נִ֭גְּרָה וְלֹ֣א תָפ֑וּג מֵאֲנָ֖ה הִנָּחֵ֣ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃
I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.
אֶזְכְּרָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֣ים וְאֶֽהֱמָיָ֑ה אָשִׂ֓יחָה ׀ וְתִתְעַטֵּ֖ף רוּחִ֣י סֶֽלָה׃
You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak.
אָ֭חַזְתָּ שְׁמֻר֣וֹת עֵינָ֑י נִ֝פְעַ֗מְתִּי וְלֹ֣א אֲדַבֵּֽר׃
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
חִשַּׁ֣בְתִּי יָמִ֣ים מִקֶּ֑דֶם שְׁ֝נ֗וֹת עוֹלָמִֽים׃
I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:
אֶֽזְכְּרָ֥ה נְגִינָתִ֗י בַּ֫לָּ֥יְלָה עִם־לְבָבִ֥י אָשִׂ֑יחָה וַיְחַפֵּ֥שׂ רוּחִֽי׃
“Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more?
הַֽ֭לְעוֹלָמִים יִזְנַ֥ח ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י וְלֹֽא־יֹסִ֖יף לִרְצ֣וֹת עֽוֹד׃
Has his loving kindness vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations?
הֶאָפֵ֣ס לָנֶ֣צַח חַסְדּ֑וֹ גָּ֥מַר אֹ֝֗מֶר לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃
Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.
הֲשָׁכַ֣ח חַנּ֣וֹת אֵ֑ל אִם־קָפַ֥ץ בְּ֝אַ֗ף רַחֲמָ֥יו סֶֽלָה׃
Then I thought, “I will appeal to this: the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
וָ֭אֹמַר חַלּ֣וֹתִי הִ֑יא שְׁ֝נ֗וֹת יְמִ֣ין עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.
אזכיר מַֽעַלְלֵי־יָ֑הּ כִּֽי־אֶזְכְּרָ֖ה מִקֶּ֣דֶם פִּלְאֶֽךָ׃
I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.
וְהָגִ֥יתִי בְכָל־פָּעֳלֶ֑ךָ וּֽבַעֲלִ֖ילוֹתֶ֣יךָ אָשִֽׂיחָה׃
Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God?
אֱ֭לֹהִים בַּקֹּ֣דֶשׁ דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ מִי־אֵ֥ל גָּ֝ד֗וֹל כֵּֽאלֹהִֽים׃
You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples.
אַתָּ֣ה הָ֭אֵל עֹ֣שֵׂה פֶ֑לֶא הוֹדַ֖עְתָּ בָעַמִּ֣ים עֻזֶּֽךָ׃
You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
גָּאַ֣לְתָּ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּנֵי־יַעֲקֹ֖ב וְיוֹסֵ֣ף סֶֽלָה׃
The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.
רָ֘א֤וּךָ מַּ֨יִם ׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים רָא֣וּךָ מַּ֣יִם יָחִ֑ילוּ אַ֝֗ף יִרְגְּז֥וּ תְהֹמֽוֹת׃
The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.
זֹ֤רְמוּ מַ֨יִם ׀ עָב֗וֹת ק֭וֹל נָתְנ֣וּ שְׁחָקִ֑ים אַף־חֲ֝צָצֶ֗יךָ יִתְהַלָּֽכוּ׃
The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.
ק֤וֹל רַעַמְךָ֨ ׀ בַּגַּלְגַּ֗ל הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקִ֣ים תֵּבֵ֑ל רָגְזָ֖ה וַתִּרְעַ֣שׁ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Your way was through the sea, your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known.
בַּיָּ֤ם דַּרְכֶּ֗ךָ ושביליך בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים וְ֝עִקְּבוֹתֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א נֹדָֽעוּ׃
You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
נָחִ֣יתָ כַצֹּ֣אן עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּֽיַד־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
My voice to God
I cry out
My voice to God
hear me
In the day of my trouble
I seek the Lord
My hand in the night
stretched out, not ceasing
My soul
refuses comfort
I remember God
and I groan
I meditate
my spirit faints
You hold my eyes
awake in the night
I am troubled
I cannot speak
I consider the days of old
years long past
Will the Lord reject forever
Will He never again be pleased
Has His steadfast love ended
for all generations
Has God forgotten mercy
Has His compassion ceased
I remember my song
in the night
I speak with my heart
my spirit searches
Is His promise gone
is His word finished
Has His grace failed
has His mercy closed
And I said
this is my grief
The years
of the right hand of the Most High
I will remember
the deeds of the Lord
I will remember
Your wonders of old
I will meditate
on all Your work
I will speak
of Your mighty acts
Your way, O God
is holy
Who is a God
great like our God
You are the God
who works wonders
You have made known
Your strength among the peoples
You redeemed Your people
with Your arm
The sons of Jacob
and Joseph
You redeemed
You redeemed
The waters saw You
they trembled
The depths shook
at Your presence
The clouds poured water
the skies thundered
Your arrows flashed
across the earth
Your thunder rolled
in the whirlwind
Lightning lit the world
the earth trembled
Your way was in the sea
Your path in the great waters
Your footsteps unseen
Your path unknown
Yet You led Your people
like a flock
You led them
You led them
By the hand
of Moses and Aaron
You led Your people
You led them
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.