1.
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
to Jeduthun. See App-65 .
Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. App-65 .
of Asaph = for Asaph. The sixth of the twelve Asaph Psalms. App-63 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
He gave ear. Inf. = "to give ear". Therefore supply Ellipsis ( App-6 ): "He [condescended] to give ear".
2.
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.
the LORD*. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim altered Jehovah to Adonai. See App-32 .
My sore ran. Hebrew hand was outstretched: i.e. in prayer.
ceased not: i.e. to be outstretched.
My soul = I (emphatic).
3.
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
complained = communed [with myself].
my spirit = I (emphatic). Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
Selah. Connecting this self-introspection with its sure result misery. See App-66 .
4.
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
eyes = eyelids; or, Thou keepest mine eyelids from closing.
5.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6.
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
my song. Note that the whole of this member (verses: Psalms 77:1-6 ) is occupation with self.
7.
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
Will . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis , emphasizing the consequence of this introspection. It is continued through the whole of this member (verses: Psalms 77:7-9 ).
8.
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
promise = word. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the promise given by it.
9.
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
Selah . Connecting all this misery with the only sure remedy occupation with God: and passing from "I" and "my" to "Thou" and "Thy". ( App-66 .)
10.
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
right hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
the MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. App-4 .
11.
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
the works = doings.
THE LORD. Hebrew Jah. App-4 .
wonders. Hebrew work. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "wonders": i.e. wonderful ways or works.
12.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
work. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "works" (plural)
13.
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
the sanctuary. Only here, in God ' s presence, is found peace and happiness.
Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. This is the cry resulting from occupation with God. Even the cry of His saints. See note on Exodus 15:11 .
14.
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
declared = made known.
people = peoples.
15.
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
Joseph. Because his sons were not the direct sons of Jacob.
Selah. Connecting the redemption from Egypt with the accomplishment of it as recorded in "the scriptures of truth". See App-66 .
16.
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
The waters. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis: i.e. the waters of the Nile, and the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31 ).
The depths. Not referring to the "abyss" of Babylonian mythology, which was a corruption of primitive truth (Genesis 1:2 ), but the Red Sea emphasized in the preceding clause.
17.
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
clouds = the thick or dark clouds.
arrows. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for lightnings, mentioned below.
18.
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
was in the heaven. Hebrew. galgal = rolled along.
The. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "Thy".
lightened = illumined.
19.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
is = was.
the sea. Not the sea-monster, the Ti'amat of Babylonian mythology, but the Red Sea mentioned above. See note on "The depths", Psalms 77:16 .
path. Hebrew text = "paths"; but some codices, with five early printed editions, as in Authorized Version.
footsteps = footprints: i.e. when the waters return to their place.
20.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Moses and Aaron. Only here in this third book.