To the Chief Musician; after the manner of Jeduthun +[one of David's three chief musicians, founder of an official musical family+]. A Psalm of Asaph.

¹I WILL cry to God with my voice, even to God with my voice, and He will give ear and hearken to me.

²In the day of my trouble I seek (inquire of and desperately require) the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out [in prayer] without slacking up; I refuse to be comforted.

³I [earnestly] remember God; I am disquieted and I groan; I muse in prayer, and my spirit faints [overwhelmed]. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

⁴You hold my eyes from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

⁵I consider the days of old, the years of bygone times [of prosperity].

⁶I call to remembrance my song in the night; with my heart I meditate and my spirit searches diligently:

⁷Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?

⁸Have His mercy and loving-kindness ceased forever? Have His promises ended for all time?

⁹Has God [deliberately] abandoned or forgotten His graciousness? Has He in anger shut up His compassion? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

¹⁰And I say, This [apparent desertion of Israel by God] is my appointed lot and trial, but I will recall the years of the right hand of the Most High [in loving-kindness extended toward us], for this is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High changes.

¹¹I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old.

¹²I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.

¹³Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary [in holiness, away from sin and guilt]. Who is a great God like our God?

¹⁴You are the God Who does wonders; You have demonstrated Your power among the peoples.

¹⁵You have with Your [mighty] arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

¹⁶When the waters [at the Red Sea and the Jordan] saw You, O God, they were afraid; the deep shuddered also, for [all] the waters saw You.

¹⁷The clouds poured down water, the skies sent out a sound [of rumbling thunder]; Your arrows went forth [in forked lightning].

¹⁸The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind, the lightnings illumined the world; the earth trembled and shook.

¹⁹Your way [in delivering Your people] was through the sea, and Your paths through the great waters, yet Your footsteps were not traceable, but were obliterated.

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