¶ To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, [even] unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)}, to Jeduthun {H3038}, A Psalm {H4210} of Asaph {H623}. I cried {H6817}{H8799)} unto God {H430} with my voice {H6963}, even unto God {H430} with my voice {H6963}; and he gave ear {H238}{H8689)} unto me.
For the leader. For Y'dutun. A psalm of Asaf: I cry aloud to God, aloud to God; and he hears me.
I cried out to God; I cried aloud to God to hear me.
I will cry unto God with my voice, Even unto God with my voice; and he will give ear unto me.
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Psalms 3:4
¶ I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. -
Psalms 142:1
¶ Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. -
Psalms 142:3
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. -
Psalms 39:1
¶ To the chief Musician, [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. -
Psalms 50:1
¶ A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. -
Psalms 62:1
¶ To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him [cometh] my salvation. -
Psalms 34:6
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 77:1 introduces a profound lament, beginning with the psalmist's intense and repeated cry to God. This verse sets the stage for a deeply personal and emotional journey of seeking divine help amidst distress.
Context
This psalm is attributed to Asaph, one of the chief musicians appointed by King David (alongside Heman and Jeduthun) to lead worship in the tabernacle. The superscription "To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph" indicates its liturgical purpose and musical setting, likely for public worship or personal reflection guided by the temple musicians. Psalm 77, often categorized as a psalm of lament, expresses the psalmist's deep anguish and struggle with doubt, particularly concerning God's apparent absence or inaction in times of trouble. Verse 1 immediately plunges the reader into the heart of this spiritual wrestling, emphasizing the desperate nature of the initial plea.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "cried" is qara' (קָרָא), which means to call, cry out, or proclaim. It often conveys a sense of urgency, summoning, or appeal. The repetition of the phrase "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice" is a rhetorical device known as anaphora, used to intensify the emotion and underscore the psalmist's earnestness and singular focus on God in his distress. The phrase "he gave ear unto me" uses a form of the verb qashab (קָשַׁב), meaning to listen attentively, to heed, or to pay close attention, reinforcing the idea of God's active engagement with the prayer.
Practical Application
Psalm 77:1 offers profound encouragement for believers facing overwhelming challenges or spiritual darkness. It validates the act of crying out to God in distress, affirming that such raw, honest supplication is heard and acknowledged by Him. This verse reminds us that:
This verse serves as a powerful opening to a psalm that ultimately finds hope and remembrance in God's past mighty acts, demonstrating that the journey from lament to trust often begins with a desperate, vocal plea.