My Cry Goes to God
Psalm 77 summary: what it means
Psalm 77 begins in the middle of a sleepless night. The speaker cries to God, stretches out their hand in prayer and refuses to be comforted. Remembering God makes things worse, not better: I remember God, and I groan. God is holding their eyelids open, and they are too troubled to speak. Thinking about the past leads to six hard questions, from will the Lord reject us forever to has God forgotten to be gracious.
Verse 10 is the hinge. The speaker decides to appeal to the years of the right hand of the Most High and to remember God's wonders of old. The last section recalls God redeeming his people, waters writhing, thunder and lightning, and a path through the sea whose footsteps were not known. It ends abruptly, with the people led like a flock by Moses and Aaron.
Listen to Psalm 77 (audio)
2:17 · AI voice · All psalms audio
Psalm 77: My Cry Goes to God
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-77
Psalm 77 commentary: explained verse by verse
My cry goes to God!Indeed, I cry to God for help,and for him to listen to me.
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
The psalm opens with a cry for help and a cry to be listened to. It says the same thing twice, which conveys how urgent it is.
Also read 1 Chronicles 25:3, Psalm 3:4, Psalm 34:6, 1 Chronicles 25:6
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.
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.
Everything here happens at night. The speaker's hand is stretched out and does not tire, and yet their soul refuses to be comforted.
Also read Psalm 88:1-3, Psalm 38:3-8, Jonah 2:1-2, Psalm 86:7
I remember God, and I groan.I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
Also read Psalm 55:4-5, Job 23:15-16, Psalm 143:4-5, Job 31:23
You hold my eyelids open.I am so troubled that I can’t speak.
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
Also read Job 7:13-15, Job 2:13, Psalm 6:6, Esther 6:1
I have considered the days of old,the years of ancient times.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
Also read Isaiah 51:9, Psalm 143:5, Isaiah 63:9-15, Deuteronomy 32:7
I remember my song in the night.I consider in my own heart;my spirit diligently inquires:
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
The speaker remembers their song in the night and turns the question over in their heart. The verse presents the questions that follow as a careful inquiry by the spirit.
Also read Job 35:10, Psalm 42:8, Habakkuk 3:17-18, 1 Corinthians 11:28-32
“Will the Lord reject us forever?Will he be favorable no more?
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
The first two questions: will the Lord reject us forever, will he be favorable no more. The prayer says us here, so the trouble involves the community as well as the speaker.
Also read Psalm 85:1, Psalm 13:1-2, Psalm 89:38, Psalm 89:46
Has his loving kindness vanished forever?Does his promise fail for generations?
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
Also read Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 27:11, Luke 16:25-26, Jeremiah 15:18
Has God forgotten to be gracious?Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
Also read Psalm 40:11, Romans 11:32, Psalm 25:6, Isaiah 63:15
Then I thought, “I will appeal to this:the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
This is the turning point. Instead of more questions, the speaker decides to appeal to the years of the right hand of the Most High, which the next verse explains as God's deeds and wonders of old.
Also read Exodus 15:6, Psalm 73:22, Habakkuk 3:2-13, Psalm 31:22
I will remember the LORD’s deeds;for I will remember your wonders of old.
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
Also read Psalm 77:10, Isaiah 5:12, Psalm 111:4, Psalm 105:5
I will also meditate on all your work,and consider your doings.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Remembering becomes deliberate. The speaker will meditate on all God's work and consider his doings, a different use of memory from the groaning of verse 3.
Also read Deuteronomy 6:7, Psalm 143:5, Psalm 105:2, Luke 24:14-32
Your way, God, is in the sanctuary.What god is great like God?
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
God's way is in the sanctuary, and the verse asks what god is great like God. It is the first open praise in the psalm.
Also read Psalm 86:8, Deuteronomy 32:31, Isaiah 40:25, Psalm 89:6-8
You are the God who does wonders.You have made your strength known among the peoples.
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
God is the one who does wonders and has made his strength known among the peoples. The focus moves from private distress to what God has shown in public.
Also read Daniel 3:29, Psalm 105:5, Psalm 72:18, Psalm 106:8
You have redeemed your people with your arm,the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
The wonder in view is redemption. God redeemed his people with his arm, and they are named as the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
Also read Exodus 6:6, Psalm 136:11-12, Psalm 74:2, Isaiah 63:9
The waters saw you, God.The waters saw you, and they writhed.The depths also convulsed.
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
Also read Exodus 14:21, Psalm 114:3-6, Habakkuk 3:15, Joshua 3:15-16
The clouds poured out water.The skies resounded with thunder.Your arrows also flashed around.
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
Also read Psalm 18:14, Psalm 68:8-9, Psalm 68:33, 2 Samuel 22:15
The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind.The lightnings lit up the world.The earth trembled and shook.
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
The scene becomes a storm. God's thunder is in the whirlwind, lightning lights up the world, and the earth trembles and shakes.
Also read 2 Samuel 22:8, Job 37:1-5, Revelation 20:11, Revelation 11:19
Your way was through the sea,your paths through the great waters.Your footsteps were not known.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
God's way went through the sea and his paths through the great waters, yet his footsteps were not known. The verse holds two things together: God made a way through the water, and no one could see his tracks.
Also read Psalm 97:2, Habakkuk 3:15, Romans 11:33, Psalm 29:10
You led your people like a flock,by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
The psalm ends quietly and abruptly. God led his people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron, and there is no return to the speaker's own trouble.
Also read Exodus 14:19, Psalm 80:1, Exodus 13:21, Isaiah 63:11-12
A prayer from Psalm 77
God, my cry goes to you. In the day of my trouble I sought you. My hand was stretched out in the night, and my soul refused to be comforted. You hold my eyelids open, and I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I ask the hard questions: has your loving kindness vanished forever, and have you forgotten to be gracious? Then I will remember your deeds and your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your work. Your way was through the sea, though your footsteps were not known. You led your people like a flock. Lead me too. Amen.
Psalm 77 Bible study questions
- In verses 7 to 9, what questions does the writer ask about God?
- According to verses 11 and 12, what does the writer decide to do?
- Verse 2 says my soul refused to be comforted; when might comfort be hard to receive?
- Verse 19 says God's footsteps were not known; what does it mean to you that God could lead without leaving visible footprints?
- Psalm 143:5 also speaks of remembering the days of old and meditating on God's doings; how does it compare with Psalm 77:5?
Questions about Psalm 77
Who wrote Psalm 77?
The heading attributes it to Asaph and addresses it to the Chief Musician, to Jeduthun.
Who was Asaph in Psalm 77?
The heading attributes the psalm to Asaph. Psalm 77 itself gives no further detail about who he was.
What is Psalm 77 about?
It is the prayer of someone who cannot sleep and fears God has rejected his people for good. Halfway through, the speaker chooses to remember God's past wonders, and the psalm ends by recalling his way through the sea.
What does Psalm 77:19 mean?
It says God's way went through the sea and the great waters, but his footsteps were not known. God acted and made a path, yet left no visible trace of his steps.
How does the King James Version word Psalm 77:14?
The KJV reads "Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people."
What does Psalm 77:2 mean?
It describes praying through the night with an outstretched hand that does not tire, while the soul still refuses to be comforted. It shows prayer continuing even when no relief comes.
Psalm 77 KJV: the King James Version
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.1
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.2
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.3
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.4
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.5
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.6
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?7
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?8
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.9
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.10
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.11
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.12
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?13
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.14
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.15
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.16
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.17
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.18
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.19
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.20
Psalm 77 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
Show the text
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־ידיתון לְאָסָ֥ף מִזְמֽוֹר׃
2 קוֹלִ֣י אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים וְאֶצְעָ֑קָה קוֹלִ֥י אֶל־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים וְהַאֲזִ֥ין אֵלָֽי׃
3 בְּי֥וֹם צָרָתִי֮ אֲדֹנָ֪י דָּ֫רָ֥שְׁתִּי יָדִ֤י ׀ לַ֣יְלָה נִ֭גְּרָה וְלֹ֣א תָפ֑וּג מֵאֲנָ֖ה הִנָּחֵ֣ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃
4 אֶזְכְּרָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֣ים וְאֶֽהֱמָיָ֑ה אָשִׂ֓יחָה ׀ וְתִתְעַטֵּ֖ף רוּחִ֣י סֶֽלָה׃
5 אָ֭חַזְתָּ שְׁמֻר֣וֹת עֵינָ֑י נִ֝פְעַ֗מְתִּי וְלֹ֣א אֲדַבֵּֽר׃
6 חִשַּׁ֣בְתִּי יָמִ֣ים מִקֶּ֑דֶם שְׁ֝נ֗וֹת עוֹלָמִֽים׃
7 אֶֽזְכְּרָ֥ה נְגִינָתִ֗י בַּ֫לָּ֥יְלָה עִם־לְבָבִ֥י אָשִׂ֑יחָה וַיְחַפֵּ֥שׂ רוּחִֽי׃
8 הַֽ֭לְעוֹלָמִים יִזְנַ֥ח ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י וְלֹֽא־יֹסִ֖יף לִרְצ֣וֹת עֽוֹד׃
9 הֶאָפֵ֣ס לָנֶ֣צַח חַסְדּ֑וֹ גָּ֥מַר אֹ֝֗מֶר לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃
10 הֲשָׁכַ֣ח חַנּ֣וֹת אֵ֑ל אִם־קָפַ֥ץ בְּ֝אַ֗ף רַחֲמָ֥יו סֶֽלָה׃
11 וָ֭אֹמַר חַלּ֣וֹתִי הִ֑יא שְׁ֝נ֗וֹת יְמִ֣ין עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
12 אזכיר מַֽעַלְלֵי־יָ֑הּ כִּֽי־אֶזְכְּרָ֖ה מִקֶּ֣דֶם פִּלְאֶֽךָ׃
13 וְהָגִ֥יתִי בְכָל־פָּעֳלֶ֑ךָ וּֽבַעֲלִ֖ילוֹתֶ֣יךָ אָשִֽׂיחָה׃
14 אֱ֭לֹהִים בַּקֹּ֣דֶשׁ דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ מִי־אֵ֥ל גָּ֝ד֗וֹל כֵּֽאלֹהִֽים׃
15 אַתָּ֣ה הָ֭אֵל עֹ֣שֵׂה פֶ֑לֶא הוֹדַ֖עְתָּ בָעַמִּ֣ים עֻזֶּֽךָ׃
16 גָּאַ֣לְתָּ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּנֵי־יַעֲקֹ֖ב וְיוֹסֵ֣ף סֶֽלָה׃
17 רָ֘א֤וּךָ מַּ֨יִם ׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים רָא֣וּךָ מַּ֣יִם יָחִ֑ילוּ אַ֝֗ף יִרְגְּז֥וּ תְהֹמֽוֹת׃
18 זֹ֤רְמוּ מַ֨יִם ׀ עָב֗וֹת ק֭וֹל נָתְנ֣וּ שְׁחָקִ֑ים אַף־חֲ֝צָצֶ֗יךָ יִתְהַלָּֽכוּ׃
19 ק֤וֹל רַעַמְךָ֨ ׀ בַּגַּלְגַּ֗ל הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקִ֣ים תֵּבֵ֑ל רָגְזָ֖ה וַתִּרְעַ֣שׁ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
20 בַּיָּ֤ם דַּרְכֶּ֗ךָ ושביליך בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים וְ֝עִקְּבוֹתֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א נֹדָֽעוּ׃
21 נָחִ֣יתָ כַצֹּ֣אן עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּֽיַד־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃
Psalm 77 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 76 there.
Show the text
1 Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of Asaph.
2 I cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me.
3 In the day of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be comforted:
4 I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my spirit swooned away.
5 My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not.
6 I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal years.
7 And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.
8 Will God then cast off for ever? or will he never be more favourable again?
9 Or will he cut off his mercy for ever, from generation to generation?
10 Or will God forget to shew mercy? or will he in his anger shut up his mercies?
11 And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of the right hand of the most High.
12 I remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of thy wonders from the beginning.
13 And I will meditate on all thy works: and will be employed in thy inventions.
14 Thy way, O God, is in the holy place: who is the great God like our God?
15 Thou art the God that dost wonders. Thou hast made thy power known among the nations:
16 With thy arm thou hast redeemed thy people the children of Jacob and of Joseph.
17 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee: and they were afraid, and the depths were troubled.
18 Great was the noise of the waters: the clouds sent out a sound. For thy arrows pass:
19 The voice of thy thunder in a wheel. Thy lightnings enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled.
20 Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters: and thy footsteps shall not be known.
21 Thou hast conducted thy people like sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 77 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 76.
Show the text
1 In finem, pro Idithun. Psalmus Asaph.
2 Voce mea ad Dominum clamavi; voce mea ad Deum, et intendit mihi.
3 In die tribulationis meæ Deum exquisivi; manibus meis nocte contra eum, et non sum deceptus. Renuit consolari anima mea;
4 memor fui Dei, et delectatus sum, et exercitatus sum, et defecit spiritus meus.
5 Anticipaverunt vigilias oculi mei; turbatus sum, et non sum locutus.
6 Cogitavi dies antiquos, et annos æternos in mente habui.
7 Et meditatus sum nocte cum corde meo, et exercitabar, et scopebam spiritum meum.
8 Numquid in æternum projiciet Deus? aut non apponet ut complacitior sit adhuc?
9 aut in finem misericordiam suam abscindet, a generatione in generationem?
10 aut obliviscetur misereri Deus? aut continebit in ira sua misericordias suas?
11 Et dixi: Nunc cœpi; hæc mutatio dexteræ Excelsi.
12 Memor fui operum Domini, quia memor ero ab initio mirabilium tuorum:
13 et meditabor in omnibus operibus tuis, et in adinventionibus tuis exercebor.
14 Deus, in sancto via tua: quis deus magnus sicut Deus noster?
15 Tu es Deus qui facis mirabilia: notam fecisti in populis virtutem tuam.
16 Redemisti in brachio tuo populum tuum, filios Jacob et Joseph.
17 Viderunt te aquæ, Deus; viderunt te aquæ, et timuerunt: et turbatæ sunt abyssi.
18 Multitudo sonitus aquarum; vocem dederunt nubes. Etenim sagittæ tuæ transeunt;
19 vox tonitrui tui in rota. Illuxerunt coruscationes tuæ orbi terræ; commota est, et contremuit terra.
20 In mari via tua, et semitæ tuæ in aquis multis, et vestigia tua non cognoscentur.
21 Deduxisti sicut oves populum tuum, in manu Moysi et Aaron.
Printable Psalm 77: free, large print and PDF
Print Psalm 77 for free: the whole psalm or only the verses you tick. Choose regular, large or extra large print, and a plain page, a framed sheet to hang on the wall or a verse card, in the World English Bible or the King James Version. To keep a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print window. Nothing to sign up for.
Psalm 77 at a glance
| Verses | 20 |
| Heading in the text | For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to Asaph and addresses it to the Chief Musician, to Jeduthun. |
| Type | Lament and Historical |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 76 |
Read Psalm 77 when you are facing
Psalm 77 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 77 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 77 belongs
Psalms of AsaphBook 3 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source