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1I will cry out to God and call for help![#tn Heb “my voice to God.” The Hebrew verb קָרָא (qara’, “to call out; to cry out”) should probably be understood by ellipsis (see Ps 3:4) both here and in the following (parallel) line.]
I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me.
2In my time of trouble I sought the Lord.[#tn Here the psalmist refers back to the very recent past, when he began to pray for divine help.]
I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night.
I refused to be comforted.
3I said, “I will remember God while I groan;
I will think about him while my strength leaves me.” (Selah)
4You held my eyelids open;[#tn 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).]
I was troubled and could not speak.
5I thought about the days of old,
about ancient times.
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.
7I asked, “Will the Lord reject me forever?[#tn 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.]
Will he never again show me his favor?
8Has his loyal love disappeared forever?
Has his promise failed forever?
9Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has his anger stifled his compassion?”
10Then I said, “I am sickened by the thought
that the sovereign One might become inactive.
11I will remember the works of the Lord .
Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago!
12I will think about all you have done;
I will reflect upon your deeds!”
13O God, your deeds are extraordinary![#sn Verses 13-20 are the content of the psalmist’s reflection (see vv. 11-12). As he thought about God’s work in Israel’s past, he reached the place where he could confidently cry out for God’s help (see v. 1).; #tn Heb “O God, in holiness [is] your way.” God’s “way” here refers to his actions. “Holiness” is used here in the sense of “set apart, unique,” rather than in a moral/ethical sense. As the next line and the next verse emphasize, God’s deeds are incomparable and set him apart as the one true God.]
What god can compare to our great God?
14You are the God who does amazing things;
you have revealed your strength among the nations.
15You delivered your people by your strength –[#tn Or “redeemed.”; #tn Heb “with [your] arm.”]
the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)
16The waters saw you, O God,[#tn The waters of the Red Sea are here personified; they are portrayed as seeing God and fearing him.]
the waters saw you and trembled.
Yes, the depths of the sea shook with fear.
17The clouds poured down rain;[#tn Heb “water.”]
the skies thundered.
Yes, your arrows flashed about.
18Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;
the lightning bolts lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
19You walked through the sea;[#tn Heb “in the sea [was] your way.”]
you passed through the surging waters,
but left no footprints.
20You led your people like a flock of sheep,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.