For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph.
1I cry out to God; yes, I shout.
Oh, that God would listen to me!
2When I was in deep trouble,
I searched for the Lord.
All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,
but my soul was not comforted.
3I think of God, and I moan,
overwhelmed with longing for his help.
Interlude
4You don’t let me sleep.
I am too distressed even to pray!
5I think of the good old days,
long since ended,
6when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
I search my soul and ponder the difference now.
7Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?
8Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
9Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion?
Interlude
10And I said, “This is my fate;
the Most High has turned his hand against me.”
11But then I recall all you have done, O LORD;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
12They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
13O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you?
14You are the God of great wonders!
You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.
15By your strong arm, you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Interlude
16When the Red Sea* saw you, O God,
its waters looked and trembled!
The sea quaked to its very depths.
17The clouds poured down rain;
the thunder rumbled in the sky.
Your arrows of lightning flashed.
18Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world!
The earth trembled and shook.
19Your road led through the sea,
your pathway through the mighty waters—
a pathway no one knew was there!
20You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.