Psalms 77:16
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
American King James Version (AKJV)
The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
American Standard Version (ASV)
The waters saw thee, O God; The waters saw thee, they were afraid: The depths also trembled.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
The waters saw you, O God; the waters saw you, they were in fear: even the deep was troubled.
Webster's Revision
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were disturbed.
World English Bible
The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.
English Revised Version (ERV)
The waters saw thee, O God; the waters saw thee, they were afraid: the depths also trembled.
Clarke's Psalms 77:16 Bible Commentary
The waters saw thee - What a fine image! He represents God approaching the Red Sea; and the waters, seeing him, took fright, and ran off before him, dividing to the right and left to let him pass. I have not found any thing more majestic than this.
The depths also were troubled - Every thing appears here to have life and perception. The waters see the Almighty, do not wait his coming, but in terror flee away! The deeps, uncovered, are astonished at the circumstance; and as they cannot fly, they are filled with trouble and dismay. Under the hand of such a poet, inanimate nature springs into life; all thinks, speaks, acts; all is in motion, and the dismay is general.
Barnes's Psalms 77:16 Bible Commentary
The waters saw thee ... - The waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan. There is great sublimity in this expression; in representing the waters as conscious of the presence of God, and as fleeing in consternation at his presence. Compare Revelation 20:11; Habakkuk 3:10-11.
They were afraid - On the word used here - חול chûl - see Psalm 10:5, note; Psalm 55:4, note. It may mean here to tremble or quake, as in pain Deuteronomy 2:25; Joel 2:6. - Alarm, distress, anguish, came over the waters at the presence of God; and they trembled, and fled.
The depths also were troubled - The deep waters, or the waters "in" the depths. It was not a ripple on the surface; but the very depths - the usually calm and undisturbed waters that lie below the surface - were heaved into commotion at the divine presence.
Wesley's Psalms 77:16 Bible Commentary
77:16 Afraid - And stood still, as men astonished, do.
