Psalms 107
1 Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love continues forever!
Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
2 Let those the Lord has saved say that they are saved; those he has rescued from the power of the enemy.
Those whom Yahweh has saved should tell others that he has rescued them from their enemies.
3 He has gathered them together from distant lands, from the east and the west, the north and the south.
He has gathered [those of you] who were [(exiled/taken forcefully)] to many lands; [he has gathered you together from] the east and 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.
Some of those [who returned from those countries] wandered in the desert; they were lost and had no homes to live in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, they became very discouraged.
They were hungry and thirsty, and they were very discouraged.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
When they were in trouble, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from (being distressed/their difficulties).
7 He led them along a straight way to a city where they could live.
He led them along a straight road [where they walked safely] to cities [in Canaan] where they could live.
8 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
They should praise/thank Yahweh for loving them faithfully and for the wonderful things that he does for people.
9 For he gives drink to those who are thirsty, and food to those who are hungry.
He gives thirsty people plenty [of water] to drink, and he gives hungry people plenty of good things [to eat].
10 Some sat in complete darkness, prisoners of misery and bound with iron chains,
Some of them were in very dark [HEN] (places [in Babylonia/other countries]); they were prisoners, suffering because of chains [fastened to their hands and feet].
11 for they had rebelled against what God had said; they had rejected the guidance of the Most High.
They were in prison because they had (rebelled against/not obeyed) the message of God; they were there because they had despised the advice given by God, who is greater than all other gods.
12 So he humbled their pride with the troubles of life; they tripped over and no one was there to stop them falling.
[That is why] their bodies were worn out from hard labor; when they fell down, there was no one who would help them.
13 Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
In their troubles, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
14 He brought them out of complete darkness, he broke their chains to pieces.
He broke the chains that were on their hands and feet; and brought them out of those very dark [prisons].
15 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
He broke down the [prison] gates that were made of bronze, and cut through the [prison] bars that were made of iron. [So they also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving [them], and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
16 For he breaks down the bronze doors, and cuts through the iron bars.
17 They were stupid because they rebelled; they suffered for their sins.
Some of them foolishly rebelled [against God], so they suffered for their sins.
18 They didn't want to eat; they were at death's door.
They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
19 Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
20 He gave the command and he healed them; he saved them from the grave.
When he commanded that they be healed, they were healed; he saved them from dying.
21 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving them, and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
22 Let them present thank offerings and sing with joy about what he has done.
They should give offerings to him to show that they are thankful, and they should sing joyfully about the miracles that he has performed.
23 Those who set sail in ships, crossing the seas to earn their living,
Some of them sailed in ships; they were selling things [in ports] throughout the world.
24 they have seen the Lord's incredible power at work—the wonderful things he did in the deepest oceans.
[As they were sailing], they also saw the miracles that Yahweh performed, the wonderful things that he did [when they were] on very deep seas.
25 He only had to speak to cause a stormy wind that stirred up towering waves,
He commanded the winds, and they became strong and (stirred up high waves/caused waves to rise high).
26 lifting the ships high in the air and then plunging them down. The sailors were so terrified that their courage melted away.
The ships [in which they were sailing] were tossed high in the air, and [then] they sank into the (troughs/low places) [between the high waves]; then the sailors were terrified.
27 They staggered around, falling from side to side like drunks—all their seamanship skills were useless.
They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their distresses.
29 He calmed the storm, the waves were quiet.
He (calmed the storm/caused the wind to stop blowing), and he caused the waves to completely subside.
30 The sailors were so happy when it all calmed down, and he brought them to the harbor they wanted.
They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
31 Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving [them], and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
32 Let them say how wonderful he is in front of the whole congregation and the elders.
They should praise him among the [Israeli] people when they have gathered together, and they should praise him in front of the leaders [of the country].
33 He dries up rivers and turns the land into a desert; the water springs stop flowing and the earth turns dry and dusty.
[Sometimes] Yahweh causes rivers [to become dry], [with the result that the land] becomes a desert, and springs of water become dry land.
34 Fruitful ground becomes a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those living there.
[Sometimes] he causes land that has produced lots of crops to become salty wastelands, [with the result that they do not produce crops]. He does that because the people who live there are [very] wicked.
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.
[But sometimes] he causes pools of water to appear in deserts, and he causes springs to flow in very dry ground.
36 He brings hungry people to live there—a place they can build their cities.
He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
37 They sow their fields and plant their vineyards, producing a good harvest.
They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
38 He takes care of them, and their numbers increase dramatically—their cattle too!
He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
39 When they become few, brought low by oppression, misery, and sorrow,
When the number of people becomes smaller and they have been humiliated [by their enemies] by being oppressed and caused to suffer [DOU],
40 He pours out his contempt on their leaders, making them wander, lost in the wilderness.
Yahweh shows contempt for the leaders who oppress them, and causes them to wander in deserts where there are no roads.
41 But he lifts the poor out of their troubles, and makes their families as big as flocks.
But he rescues poor [people] from (being in misery/suffering), and causes their families [to increase in number] like flocks of sheep.
42 Those who live right will observe what is happening and be glad, but the wicked will be silenced.
Godly/Righteous [people will (see/hear about)] these things, and they will rejoice, and wicked people [will hear about these things, too], [but] they will have nothing to say in reply.
43 Those who are wise will pay attention to all this, and thoughtfully reflect on the Lord's trustworthy love.
Those who are wise should think carefully about those things; they should consider [all the things] that Yahweh [has done to show that he] faithfully loves [them].
