In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Despite the common translation of "my sore ran," the original Hebrew points to the psalmist's hand being "stretched out without wearying" in continuous prayer throughout the night. This isn't a sign of physical ailment, but a powerful image of relentless, unwavering seeking of God even when comfort seems impossible.
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist, Asaph, begins this psalm by pouring out his heart to God in a time of deep personal and perhaps national distress, crying out incessantly through the night. Despite his desperate prayers and stretching out his hands, his soul remains inconsolable, refusing any comfort. He reflects on past national deliverances, but these memories only seem to deepen his present despair, questioning if God has forgotten his people.
Have you ever felt so drained by trouble that you wondered if your prayers were even making a difference? This verse dives into that desperate, persistent cry.
The psalmist describes a deep, unyielding struggle. He's not just praying; he's seeking the Lord in his trouble, both day and night.
An Unceasing Hand
The phrase "my hand is stretched out without wearying" is key. While some translations suggest sickness or wounds, the most consistent interpretation from scholars points to the posture of prayer. Imagine a hand held up, open, reaching towards heaven, refusing to lower even when fatigue sets in.
What happens when even the best attempts at comfort fall flat? This verse reveals a soul so deeply wounded that solace seems impossible.
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The final line, "my soul refuses to be comforted," paints a stark picture of profound grief and despair.
The Depth of Discomfort
This isn't just about feeling sad; it's about an active rejection of solace. It's a state where well-meaning words or even hopeful memories can't penetrate the thick fog of anguish.
Understand the original words
tsarah · Hebrew Noun
A state of distress, hardship, or affliction, often used in the Psalms to describe experiences that challenge a believer's faith and trust in God's providence.
Adonay · Hebrew Noun
The sovereign Master and Ruler, a title expressing supreme authority and the right to direct the life of the servant, often used as a plea for divine intervention.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The immaterial part of man that constitutes the seat of his emotions, desires, and personal identity. It is the core of a human being's existence before God, capable of experiencing deep sorrow or profound joy.
This psalm powerfully captures the anguish of someone experiencing profound national and personal crisis, likely during or shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians. The deep questioning of God's faithfulness stems from the trauma of seeing God's covenant people seemingly abandoned and God's promises broken, a sentiment intensely felt in the wake of such a cataclysmic event.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. This event marked a significant blow to national identity and confidence.
c. 622 BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah discovers the Book of the Law in the Temple and initiates sweeping religious reforms to centralize worship and adhere to its teachings. This period saw a resurgence of national identity and religious fervor.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Jewish leaders and skilled workers to Babylon, including figures like Daniel. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
More Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon following a rebellion against Babylonian rule.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and exile the majority of the remaining population. This is the most devastating event for Jewish national and religious life.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus conquers Babylon, allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
This passage reflects a similar deep distress and sleepless searching for God in the night, mirroring the psalmist's experience of finding no comfort even in prayer.
Jeremiah 31:15This verse speaks of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, a powerful parallel to the psalmist's profound grief where comfort is rejected.
Lamentations 3:49This verse describes the psalmist's tears flowing uncontrollably, which aligns with the understanding of the original Hebrew in Psalm 77:2 suggesting a 'pouring out' like tears or a hand extended in desperate prayer.
Psalm 143:7-8Here, the psalmist expresses a similar longing for God in times of trouble, crying out to be heard and seeking refuge, which resonates with the psalmist's earnest, unceasing prayer.
pulpitPsalms 77:2: "In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted."
Verse 2. - In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord (comp. Genesis 35:3; Habakkuk 3:16). My sore ran in the night; rather, my band was stretched out in the night (Cook, Cheyne, Revised Version); comp. Psalm 28:2. And ceased not. He continued in prayer all through the night. My soul refused to be comforted (comp. Genesis 37:35; Jeremiah 31:15). He was like Jacob…
clarkePsalms 77:2: "In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted."
My sore ran in the night, and ceased not - This is a most unaccountable translation; the literal meaning of ידי נגרה yadi niggerah, which we translate my sore ran, is, my hand was stretched out, i.e., in prayer. He continued during the whole night with his voice and hands lifted up to God, and ceased not, even in the midst of great discouragements.
Despite the common translation of "my sore ran," the original Hebrew points to the psalmist's hand being "stretched out without wearying" in continuous prayer throughout the night. This isn't a sign of physical ailment, but a powerful image of relentless, unwavering seeking of God even when comfort seems impossible.
The psalmist, Asaph, begins this psalm by pouring out his heart to God in a time of deep personal and perhaps national distress, crying out incessantly through the night. Despite his desperate prayers and stretching out his hands, his soul remains inconsolable, refusing any comfort. He reflects on past national deliverances, but these memories only seem to deepen his present despair, questioning if God has forgotten his people.
The psalmist, Asaph, begins this psalm by pouring out his heart to God in a time of deep personal and perhaps national distress, crying out incessantly through the night. Despite his desperate prayers and stretching out his hands, his soul remains inconsolable, refusing any comfort. He reflects on past national deliverances, but these memories only seem to deepen his present despair, questioning if God has forgotten his people.
"In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted." — Despite the common translation of "my sore ran," the original Hebrew points to the psalmist's hand being "stretched out without wearying" in continuous prayer throughout the night. This isn't a sign…
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Last reviewed October 2026