(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.