Psalm 77 Textual and Literary Study

Psalm 77:1

Text:

‫ל ְַמנַצֵּ חַַ עַל־יְ דּותּון לְ אָ סָ ף ִמזְמֹור׃‬

Verb Parsing:

ַַ‫ ְמנַצֵּ ח‬Piel Participle active ms

Rough translation:

To the Head Musician, to Jedithun Jeduthun a Psalm of

Asaph.

Smooth Translation:

To the choir director, for Jeduthun. Psalm of Asaph.

Literary Analysis:

"This first section also introduces a central theme for the first sixteen verses, that of thinking or
contemplating. Ten times synonyms for thinking will be used. The process of thinking will tie these verses
together, both causing the problem and providing the solution."

Chicago 17th Edition (Notes & Bibliography)

Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. The Book of Psalms. The New
International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2014.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:
Psalm 77:2

Text:

‫קֹולִ י אֶ ל־אֱֹלהִ ים וְ אֶ צְ עָקָ ה קֹולִ י אֶ ל־אֱֹלהִ ים וְ הַ ֲאזִין אֵּ לָי׃‬ 2

Verb Parsing:

‫ אֶ צְ עָקָ ה‬Qal Imperfect 1cs

‫ הַ ֲאזִין‬Hiphil weqatal 3ms

Rough translation:

With my voice I cried out to God, with my voice to God,

and He gave ear to me.

Smooth Translation:

With my voice I cried out to Elohim, to Elohim I cried out

loud, and He heard me.

Literary Analysis:

This verse starts both lines with the same words "
2
‫אֶ ל־אֱֹלהִ ים קֹולִ י‬ " and the last part in each
line is what changes, this is a parrallelism, used in Poetry and here the author adds more information in
the second line.

it is definitely a prayer and starts a type of lament psalm, similar but different to other psalms of lament.

Is an intense supplication in direct speech, 1cs that the Author is addressing God with prayer.

The word ‫אֱֹלהִ ים‬

wasnt translated on purpose because when translating the names,
titles of God sometimes the richness of the Hebrew is lost.

throught the Psalm I left it as it is "Elohim" which means powerfull, and the first
time it appears is tied to God as the creator, we can see a similar usage in the book
of Jonah in chapter 2 for example, where Elohim the creator and worthy of all
worship. When we transliterate the name Elohim it brings a powerfull tone to the
prayer and it shows even more the distress and intranquility of the Psalter.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:3

Text:

‫בְ יֹום צָ ָר ִתי אֲדֹ נָי דָ ָר ְש ִתי י ִָדי לַיְ לָה נִ גְ ָרה וְ ל ֹא תָ פּוג מֵּ ֲאנָה הִ נָחֵּ ם נַפְ ִשי׃‬3
Verb Parsing:

‫ דָ ָר ְש ִתי‬Qal qatal 1cs - root "to seek"

‫ נִ גְ ָרה‬Niphal qatal 3fs - root "to be poured"
‫ תָ פּוג‬Qal yiqtol 3fs - root "cease"
‫ מֵּ ֲאנָה‬Piel qatal 3fs - root "refuse"
‫ הִ נָחֵּ ם‬Niphal Infinitive construct - root "comfort"

Rough translation:

In the day of my trouble the Lord I sought my hand in the

night was stretched out and without ceasing refused to be
comforted My soul.

Smooth Translation:

In the day of my trouble I sought Adonay; To Him I

stretched out my hands in the night without ceasing, My
soul refused to be comforted.

Literary Analysis: out of the 5 verbs in this text 3 of them are in qatal form, and its important this change
because is stressed even more how puzzle was the Psalter when He was praying to Elohim and didnt get
a response, He was trying to receive help from Elohim and didnt seem to get it.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:4

Text:

‫אֶ זְכְ ָרה אֱֹלהִ ים וְ אֶ הֱמָ יָה אָ ִשיחָ ה וְ ִת ְתעַטֵּ ף רּוחִ י סֶ לָה׃‬4

Verb Parsing:

‫ אֶ זְכְ רַָה‬Qal Cohortative 1cs

‫ ָזכַר‬- root "to remember"
‫אֶ הֱמָ יָה‬Qal Cohortative 1cs
‫ הָ ָ ָֽמה‬- root "be troubled"
‫אָ ִשיחָ ה‬Qal cohortative 1cs
ַַ‫ ִשיח‬- root "complain"
‫ ִת ְתעַטֵּ ף‬Hitpael yiqtol 3fs
‫ עָטַ ף‬- root "faint"

Rough translation:

I remembered God and was troubled I complained and

was overwhelmed my spirit Selah.

Smooth Translation:

I remembered Elohim and Im moved,

I complain and my spirit faints. Selah
Literary Analysis:

This verse puts an emphasis on the Psalter and his complaints to Elohim, rather than on his enemies or
on any specifics of the "trouble" he was going through, What I mean by this is that, He prayed and
prayed thinking on Elohim until he fainted.

Psalm 77:5

Text:

‫אָ חַ זְתַָ ְשמֻרֹות עֵּינָי נִ פְ ע ְַמ ִתי וְ ל ֹא אֲדַ בֵּ ר׃‬5

Verb Parsing:

ַָ‫"אָ חַ ז "אָ חַ זְת‬Qal qatal 2ms - to graps

‫ " ָפעַם "נִ פְ ע ְַמ ִתי‬Niphal qatal 1cs - trouble
‫" דָ בַ ר"אֲדַ בֵּ ר‬Piel yiqtol 1cs - speak, say

Rough translation:

You hold my eyelids I am so troubled that cannot I speak.

Smooth Translation:

You hold me awake, I am so troubled and I cannot speak.

Literary Analysis:

This verse is a difficult one to translate because the phrase " ַָ‫עֵּינָי ְשמֻרֹות אָ חַ זְת‬ " can be
translated as "You hold what is guarding my eyes". But what the author seems to imply here is that
Elohim is the one Who is making him stay away or holding back his sleep for him, this was the trouble he
was facing, not being able to sleep.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:
Psalm 77:6

Text:

‫חִ שַ בְ ִתי י ִָמים ִמקֶ דֶ ם ְשנֹות עֹול ִָמים׃‬6

Verb Parsing:

‫" חָ שַ ב "חִ שַ בְ ִתי‬Piel qatal 1cs - consider

Rough translation:

I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient

times.

Smooth Translation:

I have considered the days of old, the years of the ancient

times.

Literary Analysis:

This verse serves as a kind of intro for the shift that the Psalter takes on the Psalm, now he is starting to
shift to the past, and he meditates and think about the Elohim of old days and He has accomplished.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:7

Text:

‫אֶ זְכְ ָרה נְ גִ ינ ִָתי בַ לָיְ לָה עִ ם־לְ בָ בִ י אָ ִשיחָ ה וַיְַחַ פֵּש רּוחִ י׃‬7
Verb Parsing:

‫" ָזכַר "אֶ זְכְ ָרה‬Qal cohortative 1cs - to remember

‫ " ִשיחַַ "אָ ִשיחָ ה‬Qal Cohortative 1cs
Piel vayyiqtol 3ms - to search"‫וַיְ חַ פֵּש"חָ פַש‬

Rough translation:

I call to remembrance my song in the night within my

heart I meditate and makes diligent search my spirit.

Smooth Translation:

I call to remembrance my song in the night, I mediate in

my heart, and my spirit makes a diligent search.

Literary Analysis:

the Psalter uses a word that is interestingly " ‫ "וַיְ חַ פֵּש‬is usually used when searching for something
physical seachers and here and lookin at the context and the style we must understand that the author is
using this Piel verb as a search within, He is searching very diligently his heart.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:8

Text:

‫הַ לְ עֹול ִָמים יִ ְזנַח אֲדֹ נָי וְ ל ֹא־יֹ ִסיף לִ ְרצֹות עֹוד׃‬8

Verb Parsing:
 Qal Infinitive Construct - be favourable "‫לִ ְרצֹות" ָרצָ ה‬
Hiphil yiqtol 3ms" - to add, anymore‫יֹ ִסיף"יָסַ ף‬
Qal yiqtol 3ms - to reject "‫יִ ְזנַח" ָזנַח‬

Rough translation:

Will forever cast off the Lord and no will He more be

favorable more.

Smooth Translation:

Will Adonay forever cast off, and will He love no more?

Literary Analysis:

The author continues his search within and starts by asking himself some questions, " ‫ "יִ ְזנַח‬brings the
idea of rejection, the Psalter wants to know if Elohim will reject him or his people forever, if God has
rejection as part of his attributes. It is a rherotical question.

Psalm 77:9

Text:

‫הֶ אָ פֵּס ָלנֶצַ ח חַ ְסדֹו גָמַ ר אֹ מֶ ר לְ דֹ ר וָדֹ ר׃‬9

Verb Parsing:

‫ “אָ פַס”הֶ אָ פֵּס‬Qal qatal 3ms - to cease

‫גָמַ ר‬Qal qatal 3ms - to end

Rough translation:

Has ceased forever His mercy has failed speech

generation and forevermore.

Smooth Translation:
 Has He ran out of His mercy?
Has His promise failed forevermore?

Literary Analysis:

This verse is a continuation of verse 8 with the self-questions that the Psalter is making, is interesting

that the word that sometimes is translated as "mercy" is "heced" ‫חַ ְסדֹו‬, and its basic meaning is
that of Loyal love in the sense that the psalter was to know if God will continue to be faithfull or
if He has cut off the author out of his covenant love - relationship.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:10

Text:

‫הֲשָ כַח חַ נֹות אֵּ ל ִאם־קָ פַץ בְ אַ ף ַרחֲמָ יו סֶ לָה׃‬10

Verb Parsing:

‫שָ כַח"הֲשָ כַח‬ " Qal qatal 3ms - to forget.

‫ חַ נֹות‬Piel Infinitive construct - to be gracious
‫ קָ פַץ‬Qal qatal 3ms - to shut

Rough translation:

Has forgotten to be gracious God or has He withdrawn in

anger His tender mercies
. Selah

Smooth Translation:
 Has Elohim forgoten to be gracious?
Or has He withdrawn in anger His tender mercies?
Selah
Literary Analysis:

"‫ "קָ פַץ & הֲשָ כַח‬These 2 verses are very strong and powerfull and If we look at
all the questions the Psalter is asking, all of them are directed towars the Character
of God. But the verb forget and shut off are really strong in the sense, Here is
another verse or from verse 1 until this one when he speaks about Elohim is not
speaking about any God, but the God who is all powerfull and creater of heaven
and earth , and it seems contradictory that He is calling God by this name but at the
same time is asking questions about his character, but if we continue to read the
Psalm is not really contradictory because in the next couple of verses the Psalter
will call God with different names especially YHVH which is the name God gave
to himself to Moses, and it expresses coventant keeping promises and covenant
relationship.
Psalm 77:11

Text:

‫לֹותי הִ יא ְשנֹות יְ ִמין עֶלְ יֹון׃‬

ִ ַ‫וָאֹ מַ ר ח‬11
Verb Parsing:

.‫" אָ מַ ר"וָאֹ מַַר‬Qal vayyiqtol 1cs - to say

‫לֹותי‬
ִ ַ‫" חָ לָה"ח‬Qal Infinitive construct - to be weak
‫" שָ נָה" ְשנֹות‬Qal Infinitive construct - years

Rough translation:

And I said my anguish that the years of the right hand of

the Most High

Smooth Translation:
 Then I said, this is my sickness, that the right hand of the
Most High can change.

Literary Analysis:

In the same sense this verse is one of the most important of the whole Psalm 77 if not the most
important, there are some schollars who understand the translation and understanding of this text to
portrait an understanding and translation of the Psalm as a whole. Others place this verse as the end of
the part of the "lament" section of this psalm.

Whichever it might be one important factor is that the Psalter adds 2 new things about God, one that He
alone is the "Most High" and the use of "the right hand" which can imply mighty, omnipotence, which
presents God as the only and superior God among the "gods" and then the next verses He introduces the
abreviation of YHVH.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:12

Text:

‫אֶ זְכֹור מַ עַלְ לֵּי־יָּה כִ י־אֶ זְכְ ָרה ִמקֶ דֶ ם פִ לְ אֶ ָך׃‬12

Verb Parsing:

.‫" ָזכַר"אֶ זְכֹור‬Qal yiqtol 1cs - to remember

‫" ָזכַר"אֶ זְכְַ ָרה‬Qal cohortative 1cs - to remember

Rough translation:

I will remember the works of YAH surely I will remember

of old Your wonders
Smooth Translation:

I will remember the works of YAH, Yes!

I will remember of Your wonders of old.

Literary Analysis:

This verse is like the Psalter is answering himself all the questions He asked YAH from verses 8 until now.
He uses Gods name for covenant relastionship, this verses also marks a shift and even the focus of the
prayer changes, instead of looking at his troubled life and circumstances he now looks to God (YHVH)
finally realizing that YHVH is the same and will never change. He now will meditate in YHVH works and
wonders. He will remember to lift of his faith and realize that YHVH character is unchanging.

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:13

Text:

‫יתי בְ כָל־ ָפ ֳעלֶָך ּובַ עֲלִ ילֹותֶ יָך אָ ִשיחָ ה׃‬

ִ ִ‫וְ הָ ג‬13

Verb Parsing:

.‫יתי‬
ִ ִ‫ " הָ גָה"וְ הָ ג‬Qal weqatal 1cs - to ponder
‫ " ִשיחַַ"אָ ִשיחָ ה‬Qal cohortative 1cs - to talk, to muse

Rough translation:

And I will meditate on all Your work and of Your deeds

talk

Smooth Translation:
 I will meditate on all Your work, And will ponder in your
deeds.

Literary Analysis:

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:14

Text:

‫אֱֹלהִ ים בַ קֹ דֶ ש דַ ְרכֶָך ִמי־אֵּ ל גָדֹול כֵּאֹלהִ ים׃‬14

Verb Parsing:

Rough translation:

God in the sanctuary Your way is who is a God so great as

God.

Smooth Translation:

Oh Elohim!, Your way is holy!, what God is so great as

Elohim?

Literary Analysis:

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:15

Text:

‫אַ תָ ה הָ אֵּ ל עֹ שֵּ ה ֶפלֶא הֹודַ עְ תַָ בָ ע ִַמים ֻעזֶָך׃‬15

Verb Parsing:

.‫" עָשָ ה"עֹ שֵּ ה‬Qal participle active ms - to work

ָּ‫ "יָדַ ע"הֹודַ ְע ָת‬Hiphil qatal 2ms - to declare

Rough translation:

You are the God who does wonders You have declared
among the peoples Your strength

Smooth Translation:

You are Ha-El, who does wonders; You have declared

among the peoples Your strength.

Literary Analysis:

Psalm 77:16

Text:

‫גָאַ לְַתַָ בִ זְרֹו ַַע עַמֶ ָך בְ נֵּי־ ַיעֲקֹ ב וְ יֹוסֵּ ף סֶ לָה׃‬16

Verb Parsing:
 ַָ‫ "גָאַ ל"גָאַ לְ ת‬Qal qatal 2ms - to redeem

Rough translation:

You have redeemed with the arm people the sons of Jacob
and Joseph. Selah

Smooth Translation:

You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons
of Jacob and Joseph.

Literary Analysis:

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:17

Text:

‫ ָראּוָך מַ יִ ם אֱֹלהִ ים ָראּוָך מַ יִ ם יָחִ ילּו אַ ף יִ ְרגְ זּו ְתהֹ מֹות׃‬17

Verb Parsing:

‫" ָראָ ה" ָראּוָך‬Qal qatal 3cp - to see

‫" חּול"יָחִ ילּו‬Qal yiqtol 3mp - to dance, to twist
‫ " ָרגַז"יִ ְרגְ זּו‬Qal yiqtol 3mp - to quake

Rough translation:
 Saw you the waters God, saw you the waters they were
afraid also trembled the dephts

Smooth Translation:

The waters saw You, oh Elohim, the waters saw You and
were afraid, the dephts also trembled.

Literary Analysis:

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:18

Text:

‫זֹ ְרמּו מַ יִ ם עָבֹות קֹול נ ְָתנּו ְשחָ קִ ים אַ ף־ ֲחַצָ צֶ יָך יִ ְתהַ לָכּו׃‬18

Verb Parsing:

‫ " ז ַָרם"זֹ ְרמּו‬Poel qatal 3cp - to pour out

‫ "נָתַ ן"נ ְָתנּו‬Qal qatal 3cp - to give
Hitpael yiqtol 3mp - to walk about‫"הָ לְַך"יִ ְתהַ לָכּו‬

Rough translation:

Poured out water the clouds a sound sent out the skies also
your arrows flashed all around
Smooth Translation:

The clouds poured out water, the skies gave forth a sound,
your arrows flashed all around..

Literary Analysis:

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:19

Text:

‫קֹול ַרע ְַמָך בַַגַלְ גַל הֵּ ִאירּו בְ ָרקִ ים תֵּ בֵּ ל ָרגְ זָה ו ִַת ְרעַש הָ אָ ֶרץ׃‬19

Verb Parsing:

. ‫ "אֹור"הֵּ ִאירּו‬Hiphil qatal 3cp - light up

‫ " ָרגַז" ָרגְ זָה‬Qal qatal 3fs - to tremble
‫ " ָרעַש"ו ִַת ְרעַש‬Qal vayyiqtol 3fs - to shake

Rough translation:

The voice of your thunder in the whirlwind lit up the

lightnings, the world trembled and shook the earth

Smooth Translation:
 The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind, Your
lightnings lit up the world; the world trembled and shook
the earth.

Literary Analysis:

Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:20

Text:

‫ּושבִ ילְ ָך בְ מַ יִ ם ַרבִ ים וְ עִ קְ בֹותֶ יָך ל ֹא נֹ דָ עּו׃‬

ְ ‫בַ יָם דַ ְרכֶָך‬20

Verb Parsing:

.‫ "יָדַ ע"נֹ דָ עּו‬Niphal qatal 3cp - to be made known

Rough translation:

In the sea your way and Your path and your paths in the
waters great and your footsteps were not known

Smooth Translation:

You opened Your path in the sea, Your ways, in the great
waters, and Your footsepts were not known.

Literary Analysis:
Textual Critical Note:

Translation:

Comments:

Psalm 77:21

Text:

‫נָחִ יתַָ ַךצ ֹאן עַמֶ ָך בְ יַד־מֹ שֶ ה וְ אַ הֲרֹ ן׃‬21

Verb Parsing:

.ַָ‫ "נָחָ ה"נָחִ ית‬Qal qatal 2ms - to lead

Rough translation:

You led like a flock your people by the hand of Moses and
Aaron

Smooth Translation:

Like a flock You led your people, by the hand of Moses

and Aaron.

Literary Analysis: