Psalms 107

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

Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness for his 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 this be the song of the ransomed, whom the Lord has redeemed from distress,

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

gathering them from all lands, east, west, north, and south.

4 They wandered in the desert wilderness, unable to find a way to a city where they could live.

In the wastes of the desert some wandered, finding no way to a city inhabited.

5 Hungry and thirsty, they became very discouraged.

Full of hunger and thirst, their spirit failed.

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 saved them from their distresses,

7 He led them along a straight way to a city where they could live.

guiding them straight on the way, till they reached an inhabited city.

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

Let them thank the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people;

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

for the thirsty he satisfies, and the hungry he fills with good things.

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

Some sat in darkness and gloom prisoners in irons and misery,

11 for they had rebelled against what God had said; they had rejected the guidance of the Most High.

for rebelling against God’s word, and spurning the Most High’s counsel.

12 So he humbled their pride with the troubles of life; they tripped over and no one was there to stop them falling.

Their heart was bowed with toil; there was no one to help when they stumbled.

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 from their distresses.

14 He brought them out of complete darkness, he broke their chains to pieces.

Out of darkness and gloom he brought them, and burst their chains.

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 kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people.

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

For he shattered the gates of bronze, and broke bars of iron.

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

Some were sick from their wicked ways, and suffering because of their sins.

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

All manner of food they hated; they had come 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, and he saved them from 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 their life from the pit.

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 kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people.

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

Let them offer to him thankofferings, and with joy tell what things he has done.

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

Some crossed the sea in ships, doing business in great waters.

24 they have seen the Lord's incredible power at work—the wonderful things he did in the deepest oceans.

They have seen what the Lord can do, and his wonderful deeds on the deep.

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

At his command rose a tempest, which lifted the waves on high.

26 lifting the ships high in the air and then plunging them down. The sailors were so terrified that their courage melted away.

Up to heaven they went, down to the depths; their courage failed them.

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

They staggered and reeled like drunkards; all their skills useless.

28 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 saved them from their distresses.

29 He calmed the storm, the waves were quiet.

He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

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

They were glad, because it was quiet; they were led to the haven they longed for.

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 kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people.

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

Where the people assemble, extol him, and praise him in council of 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 streams into a wilderness, springs of water into thirsty land,

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

fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the sin of the people.

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.

A desert he makes pools of water, a land of drought into springs of water.

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

He settles the hungry therein, they establish a city to live in.

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

They sow fields and plant vineyards, which furnish a fruitful yield.

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

By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he lets not their cattle decrease.

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

Yet when they are bowed and diminished by oppression, misfortune, or sorrow,

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

he pours contempt upon princes, and on trackless wastes leads them astray

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

He lifts the poor out of misery, and makes families fruitful as flocks.

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

At this sight shall the upright be glad, and all wicked mouths shall be stopped.

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

Let those who are wise observe this, and consider the love of the Lord