Psalm 77

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-4) 123 St Neot, 120 St Mary

(vv.5-12) 136 Stracathro, 25 Ayrshire

(vv.13-20) 88 Montrose, 158 Weymouth

1    Unto the Lord I with my voice,

            I unto God did cry;

      Ev’n with my voice, and unto me

            his ear he did apply.

2    I in my trouble sought the Lord,

            my sore by night did run,

      And ceased not; my grieved soul

            did consolation shun.

3    I to remembrance God did call,

            yet trouble did remain;

      And overwhelm’d my spirit was,

            whilst I did sore complain.

4    Mine eyes, debarr’d from rest and sleep,

            thou makest still to wake;

      My trouble is so great that I

            unable am to speak.

5    The days of old to mind I call’d,

            and oft did think upon

      The times and ages that are past

            full many years agone.

6    By night my song I call to mind,

            and commune with my heart;

      My sp’rit did carefully enquire

            how I might ease my smart.

7    For ever will the Lord cast off,

            and gracious be no more?

8    For ever is his mercy gone?

            fails his word evermore?

9    Is’t true that to be gracious

            the Lord forgotten hath?

      And that his tender mercies he

            hath shut up in his wrath?

10  Then did I say, That surely this

            is mine infirmity:

      I’ll mind the years of the right hand

            of him that is most High.

11  Yea, I remember will the works

            performed by the Lord:

      The wonders done of old by thee

            I surely will record.

12  I also will of all thy works

            my meditation make;

      And of thy doings to discourse

            great pleasure I will take.

13  O God, thy way most holy is

            within thy sanctuary;

      And what God is so great in pow’r

            as is our God most high?

14  Thou art the God that wonders do’st

            by thy right hand most strong:

      Thy mighty pow’r thou hast declar’d

            the nations among.

15  To thine own people with thine arm

            thou didst redemption bring;

      To Jacob’s sons, and to the tribes

            of Joseph that do spring.

16  The waters, Lord, perceived thee,

            the waters saw thee well;

      And they for fear aside did flee;

            the depths on trembling fell.

17  The clouds in water forth were pour’d,

            sound loudly did the sky;

      And swiftly through the world abroad

            thine arrows fierce did fly.

18  Thy thunder’s voice alongst the heav’n

            a mighty noise did make;

      By lightnings lighten’d was the world,

            th’ earth tremble did and shake.

19  Thy way is in the sea, and in

            the waters great thy path;

      Yet are thy footsteps hid, O Lord;

            none knowledge thereof hath.

20  Thy people thou didst safely lead,

            like to a flock of sheep;

      By Moses’ hand and Aaron’s thou

            didst them conduct and keep.