Psalms 107

1 Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love continues forever!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

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 by the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,

3 He has gathered them together from distant lands, from the east and the west, the north and the south.

And gathered 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 desert way. They found no city to live 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 to the LORD 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.

he led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in.

8 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works for the descendants of Adam.

9 For he gives drink to those who are thirsty, and food to those who are hungry.

For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.

10 Some sat in complete darkness, prisoners of misery and bound with iron chains,

Some sat 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 God, and condemned 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 labor. 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 to the LORD 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 broke their bonds in sunder.

15 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works for the descendants of Adam.

16 For he breaks down the bronze doors, and cuts through the iron bars.

For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron.

17 They were stupid because they rebelled; they suffered for their sins.

Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities.

18 They didn't want to eat; they were at death's door.

Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to 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 cried to the LORD in their trouble; he saved 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; he delivered them from their traps.

21 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works for the descendants of Adam.

22 Let them present thank offerings and sing with joy about what he has done.

Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with singing.

23 Those who set sail in ships, crossing the seas to earn their living,

Those who go down to the sea in ships, who 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 LORD's works, and his wonders in the deep.

25 He only had to speak to cause a stormy wind that stirred up towering waves,

For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves.

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 sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.

27 They staggered around, falling from side to side like drunks—all their seamanship skills were useless.

They reel back and forth, 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 to the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.

29 He calmed the storm, the waves were quiet.

He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.

30 The sailors were so happy when it all calmed down, and he brought them to the harbor they wanted.

Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven.

31 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works for the descendants of Adam.

32 Let them say how wonderful he is in front of the whole congregation and the elders.

Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat 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 turns rivers into a desert, water springs into a thirsty ground,

34 Fruitful ground becomes a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those living there.

and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

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 turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs.

36 He brings hungry people to live there—a place they can build their cities.

There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in,

37 They sow their fields and plant their vineyards, producing a good harvest.

sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase.

38 He takes care of them, and their numbers increase dramatically—their cattle too!

He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn't allow their livestock to decrease.

39 When they become few, brought low by oppression, misery, and sorrow,

Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

40 He pours out his contempt on their leaders, making them wander, lost in the wilderness.

He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.

41 But he lifts the poor out of their troubles, and makes their families as big as flocks.

Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock.

42 Those who live right will observe what is happening and be glad, but the wicked will be silenced.

The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.

43 Those who are wise will pay attention to all this, and thoughtfully reflect on the Lord's trustworthy love.

Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of the LORD.