(A psalm by Asaph for Jeduthun, the music leader.)
In Times of Trouble God Is with His People
1I pray to you, Lord God,
and I beg you to listen.
2In days filled with trouble,
I search for you.
And at night I tirelessly
lift my hands in prayer,
refusing comfort.
3When I think of you,
I feel restless and weak.
4Because of you, Lord God,
I can't sleep.
I am restless
and can't even talk.
5I think of times gone by,
of those years long ago.
6Each night my mind
is flooded with questions:
7“Have you rejected me forever?
Won't you be kind again?
8Is this the end of your love
and your promises?
9Have you forgotten
how to have pity?
Do you refuse to show mercy
because of your anger?”
10Then I said, “God Most High,
what hurts me most
is that you no longer help us
with your mighty arm.”
11Our Lord, I will remember
the things you have done,
your miracles of long ago.
12I will think about each one
of your mighty deeds.
13Everything you do is right,
and no other god
compares with you.
14You alone work miracles,
and you have let nations
see your mighty power.
15With your own arm you rescued
your people, the descendants
of Jacob and Joseph.
16The ocean looked at you, God,
and it trembled deep down
with fear.
17Water flowed from the clouds.
Thunder was heard above
as your arrows of lightning
flashed about.
18Your thunder roared
like chariot wheels.
The world was made bright
by lightning,
and all the earth trembled.
19You walked through the water
of the mighty sea,
but your footprints
were never seen.
20You guided your people
like a flock of sheep,
and you chose Moses and Aaron
to be their leaders.