A passionate cry for help

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

I cried out to God for help.
I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in trouble, I looked to the Lord.
During the night I lifted up my hands in prayer.
But I refused to be comforted.

3 God, I remembered you, and I groaned.
I thought about you, and I became weak.
Selah

4 You kept me from going to sleep.
I was so troubled I couldn’t speak.

5 I thought about days gone by.
I thought about the years of long ago.

6 I remembered how I used to sing praise to you in the night.
I thought about it, and here is what I asked myself.

7 “Will the Lord turn away from us forever?
Won’t he ever show us his kindness again?

8 Has his faithful love disappeared forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to show us his favour?
Has he held back his tender love because he was angry?”
Selah

10 Then I thought, “Here is what I will make my appeal to.
For many years the Most High God showed how powerful his right hand is.”

11 Lord, I will remember what you did.
Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will spend time thinking about everything you have done.
I will consider all of your mighty acts.

13 God, everything you do is holy.
What god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who does miracles.
You show your power among the nations.

15 With your mighty arm you set your people free.
You set the children of Jacob and Joseph free.
Selah

16 God, the water of the Red Sea saw you.
It saw you and boiled up.
The deepest waters were stirred up.

17 The clouds poured down rain.
The skies rumbled with thunder.
Lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.

18 Your thunder was heard in the windstorm.
Your lightning lit up the world.
The earth trembled and shook.

19 Your path led through the Red Sea.
You walked through the mighty waters.
But your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock.
You led them by the hands of Moses and Aaron.