< Psalms 107 >

1 Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love continues forever!
O give thanks unto YHWH, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let those the Lord has saved say that they are saved; those he has rescued from the power of the enemy.
Let the redeemed of YHWH say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 He has gathered them together from distant lands, from the east and the west, the north and the south.
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4 They wandered in the desert wilderness, unable to find a way to a city where they could live.
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, they became very discouraged.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
Then they cried unto YHWH in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 He led them along a straight way to a city where they could live.
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
Oh that men would praise YHWH for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he gives drink to those who are thirsty, and food to those who are hungry.
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Some sat in complete darkness, prisoners of misery and bound with iron chains,
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 for they had rebelled against what God had said; they had rejected the guidance of the Most High.
Because they rebelled against the words of El, and despised the counsel of the Most High:
12 So he humbled their pride with the troubles of life; they tripped over and no one was there to stop them falling.
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
Then they cried unto YHWH in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of complete darkness, he broke their chains to pieces.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
Oh that men would praise YHWH for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he breaks down the bronze doors, and cuts through the iron bars.
For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 They were stupid because they rebelled; they suffered for their sins.
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 They didn't want to eat; they were at death's door.
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
Then they cry unto YHWH in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20 He gave the command and he healed them; he saved them from the grave.
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
Oh that men would praise YHWH for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them present thank offerings and sing with joy about what he has done.
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 Those who set sail in ships, crossing the seas to earn their living,
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 they have seen the Lord's incredible power at work—the wonderful things he did in the deepest oceans.
These see the works of YHWH, and his wonders in the deep.
25 He only had to speak to cause a stormy wind that stirred up towering waves,
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 lifting the ships high in the air and then plunging them down. The sailors were so terrified that their courage melted away.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They staggered around, falling from side to side like drunks—all their seamanship skills were useless.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
Then they cry unto YHWH in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He calmed the storm, the waves were quiet.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 The sailors were so happy when it all calmed down, and he brought them to the harbor they wanted.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
Oh that men would praise YHWH for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them say how wonderful he is in front of the whole congregation and the elders.
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He dries up rivers and turns the land into a desert; the water springs stop flowing and the earth turns dry and dusty.
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34 Fruitful ground becomes a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those living there.
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 But he also turns around and makes pools of water in the desert, and makes water springs flow in a dry and dusty land.
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 He brings hungry people to live there—a place they can build their cities.
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 They sow their fields and plant their vineyards, producing a good harvest.
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He takes care of them, and their numbers increase dramatically—their cattle too!
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 When they become few, brought low by oppression, misery, and sorrow,
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He pours out his contempt on their leaders, making them wander, lost in the wilderness.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41 But he lifts the poor out of their troubles, and makes their families as big as flocks.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42 Those who live right will observe what is happening and be glad, but the wicked will be silenced.
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Those who are wise will pay attention to all this, and thoughtfully reflect on the Lord's trustworthy love.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of YHWH.

< Psalms 107 >