Psalms 107

1 Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy [endures] for ever.

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

2 Let them say [so] who have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he has 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 countries, from the east, and west, and north, and 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 dry land; they found no way to a city of habitation.

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 to the Lord in their affliction, 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 guided them into a straight path, that they might go to a city of habitation.

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

8 Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and 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 satisfies the empty soul, and fills the hungry [soul] with good things,

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

10 [even] them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, fettered in poverty 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 provoked 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 So their heart was brought low with troubles; they were weak, and there was no helper.

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 to the Lord in their affliction, 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 And he brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds asunder.

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

15 Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and his wonders 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 broke to pieces the brazen gates, and crushed the iron bars.

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

17 He helped them out of the way of their iniquity; for they were brought low because of their iniquities.

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

18 Their soul abhorred all meat; and they drew near to the gates of death.

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

19 Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction, 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.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them out of their destructions.

He gave the command and he healed them; he saved them from the grave.

21 Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and 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 offer to him the sacrifice of praise, and proclaim this works with exultation.

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

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, doing business in many waters;

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

24 these [men] have seen the works of the Lord, 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 He speaks, and the stormy wind arises, and its waves are lifted up.

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

26 They go up to the heavens, and go down to the depths; their soul melts because of troubles.

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

27 They are troubled, they stagger as a drunkard, and all their wisdom is swallowed up.

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

28 Then they cry to the Lord in their affliction, and he brings 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 And he commands the storm, and it is calmed into a gentle breeze, and its waves are still.

He calmed the storm, the waves were quiet.

30 And they are glad, because they are quiet; and he guides them to their desire haven.

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

31 Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and 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 in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.

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

33 He turns rivers into a desert, and streams of water into a dry land;

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 saltness, for the wickedness of them that dwell in it.

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

35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and a dry land into streams of water.

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 causes the hungry to dwell, and they establish for themselves cities of habitation.

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

37 And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and they yield fruit of increase.

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

38 And he blesses them, and they multiply exceedingly, and he diminishes not the number of their cattle.

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

39 Again they become few, and are brought low, by the pressure of evils and pain.

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

40 Contempt is poured upon their princes, and he causes them to wander in a desert and trackless land.

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

41 But he helps the poor out of poverty, and makes [him] families as a flock.

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

42 The upright shall see 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 Who is wise, and will observe these things, and understand the mercies of the Lord?

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