Psalm 77

Voce mea ad Dominum

I will cry aloud to God; *

I will cry aloud, and he will hear me.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; *

my hands were stretched out by night and did not tire;

I refused to be comforted.

I think of God, I am restless, *

I ponder, and my spirit faints.

You will not let my eyelids close; *

I am troubled and I cannot speak.

I consider the days of old; *

I remember the years long past;

I commune with my heart in the night; *

I ponder and search my mind.

Will the Lord cast me off for ever? *

will he no more show his favor?

Has his loving-kindness come to an end for ever? *

has his promise failed for evermore?

Has God forgotten to be gracious? *

has he, in his anger, withheld his compassion?

And I said, “My grief is this: *

the right hand of the Most High has lost its power.”

I will remember the works of the Lord, *

and call to mind your wonders of old time.

I will meditate on all your acts *

and ponder your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy; *

who is so great a god as our God?

You are the God who works wonders *

and have declared your power among the peoples.

By your strength you have redeemed your people, *

the children of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw you, O God;

the waters saw you and trembled; *

the very depths were shaken.

The clouds poured out water;

the skies thundered; *

your arrows flashed to and fro;

The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;

your lightnings lit up the world; *

the earth trembled and shook.

Your way was in the sea,

and your paths in the great waters, *

yet your footsteps were not seen.

You led your people like a flock *

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 79

Deus, venerunt

O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance;

they have profaned your holy temple; *

they have made Jerusalem a heap of rubble.

They have given the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the air, *

and the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the field.

They have shed their blood like water on every side of Jerusalem, *

and there was no one to bury them.

We have become a reproach to our neighbors, *

an object of scorn and derision to those around us.

How long will you be angry, O Lord? *

will your fury blaze like fire for ever?

Pour out your wrath upon the heathen who have not known you *

and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your Name.

For they have devoured Jacob *

and made his dwelling a ruin.

Remember not our past sins;

let your compassion be swift to meet us; *

for we have been brought very low.

Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your Name; *

deliver us and forgive us our sins, for your Name’s sake.

Why should the heathen say, “Where is their God?” *

Let it be known among the heathen and in our sight

that you avenge the shedding of your servants’ blood.

Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before you, *

and by your great might spare those who are condemned to die.

May the revilings with which they reviled you, O Lord, *

return seven-fold into their bosoms.

For we are your people and the sheep of your pasture; *

we will give you thanks for ever

and show forth your praise from age to age.