Psalms 107
1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Those whom Yahweh has saved should tell others that he has rescued them from their enemies.
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 [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 wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
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, their soul fainted in them.
They were hungry and thirsty, and they were very discouraged.
6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he delivered them out of their distresses.
When they were in trouble, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from (being distressed/their difficulties).
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 road [where they walked safely] to cities [in Canaan] where they could live.
8 Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
They should praise/thank Yahweh for loving them faithfully and for the wonderful things that he does for people.
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
He gives thirsty people plenty [of water] to drink, and he gives hungry people plenty of good things [to eat].
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, [being] bound in affliction and iron;
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 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel 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 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and [there was] none to help.
[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 cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses.
In their troubles, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
He broke the chains that were on their hands and feet; and brought them out of those very dark [prisons].
15 Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
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 hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Some of them foolishly rebelled [against God], so they suffered for their sins.
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saveth them out of their distresses.
In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered [them] from their destructions.
When he commanded that they be healed, they were healed; he saved them from dying.
21 Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving them, and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
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 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Some of them sailed in ships; they were selling things [in ports] throughout the world.
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
[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 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
He commanded the winds, and they became strong and (stirred up high waves/caused waves to rise high).
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
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 reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
He (calmed the storm/caused the wind to stop blowing), and he caused the waves to completely subside.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
31 Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving [them], and for [all] the wonderful things that 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.
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 turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
[Sometimes] Yahweh causes rivers [to become dry], [with the result that the land] becomes a desert, and springs of water become dry land.
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
[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 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
[But sometimes] he causes pools of water to appear in deserts, and he causes springs to flow in very dry ground.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, 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 poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.
Yahweh shows contempt for the leaders who oppress them, and causes them to wander in deserts where there are no roads.
41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh [him] families like a flock.
But he rescues poor [people] from (being in misery/suffering), and causes their families [to increase in number] like flocks of sheep.
42 The righteous shall see [it], and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
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 Whoso [is] wise, and will observe these [things], even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
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].
