Psalms 107
1 O give thanks unto Yhwh, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love continues forever!
2 Let the redeemed of Yhwh say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Let those the Lord has saved say that they are saved; those he has rescued from the power of the enemy.
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
He has gathered them together from distant lands, from the east and the west, the north and the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
They wandered in the desert wilderness, unable to find a way to a city where they could live.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Hungry and thirsty, they became very discouraged.
6 Then they cried unto Yhwh in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
He led them along a straight way to a city where they could live.
8 Oh that men would praise Yhwh for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
For he gives drink to those who are thirsty, and food to those who are hungry.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Some sat in complete darkness, prisoners of misery and bound with iron chains,
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
for they had rebelled against what God had said; they had rejected the guidance of the Most High.
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
So he humbled their pride with the troubles of life; they tripped over and no one was there to stop them falling.
13 Then they cried unto Yhwh in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
He brought them out of complete darkness, he broke their chains to pieces.
15 Oh that men would praise Yhwh for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
For he breaks down the bronze doors, and cuts through the iron bars.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
They were stupid because they rebelled; they suffered for their sins.
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
They didn't want to eat; they were at death's door.
19 Then they cry unto Yhwh in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
He gave the command and he healed them; he saved them from the grave.
21 Oh that men would praise Yhwh for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Let them present thank offerings and sing with joy about what he has done.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Those who set sail in ships, crossing the seas to earn their living,
24 These see the works of Yhwh, and his wonders in the deep.
they have seen the Lord's incredible power at work—the wonderful things he did in the deepest oceans.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
He only had to speak to cause a stormy wind that stirred up towering waves,
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
lifting the ships high in the air and then plunging them down. The sailors were so terrified that their courage melted away.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
They staggered around, falling from side to side like drunks—all their seamanship skills were useless.
28 Then they cry unto Yhwh in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
He calmed the storm, the waves were quiet.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
The sailors were so happy when it all calmed down, and he brought them to the harbor they wanted.
31 Oh that men would praise Yhwh for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Let them say how wonderful he is in front of the whole congregation and the elders.
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
He dries up rivers and turns the land into a desert; the water springs stop flowing and the earth turns dry and dusty.
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
Fruitful ground becomes a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those living there.
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
But he also turns around and makes pools of water in the desert, and makes water springs flow in a dry and dusty land.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
He brings hungry people to live there—a place they can build their cities.
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
They sow their fields and plant their vineyards, producing a good harvest.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
He takes care of them, and their numbers increase dramatically—their cattle too!
39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
When they become few, brought low by oppression, misery, and sorrow,
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
He pours out his contempt on their leaders, making them wander, lost in the wilderness.
41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
But he lifts the poor out of their troubles, and makes their families as big as flocks.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
Those who live right will observe what is happening and be glad, but the wicked will be silenced.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of Yhwh.
Those who are wise will pay attention to all this, and thoughtfully reflect on the Lord's trustworthy love.
