Psalms 107
1 “Give thanks to YHWH, For [He is] good, for His kindness [is] for all time”:
Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love continues forever!
2 Let the redeemed of YHWH say [so], Whom He redeemed from the hand of an adversary.
Let those the Lord has saved say that they are saved; those he has rescued from the power of the enemy.
3 And has gathered them from the lands, From east and from west, From north, and from the sea.
He has gathered them together from distant lands, from the east and the west, the north and the south.
4 They wandered in a wilderness, in a desert by the way, They have not found a city of habitation.
They wandered in the desert wilderness, unable to find a way to a city where they could live.
5 Hungry—indeed—thirsty, Their soul becomes feeble in them,
Hungry and thirsty, they became very discouraged.
6 And they cry to YHWH in their adversity, He delivers them from their distress,
Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
7 And causes them to tread in a right way, To go to a city of habitation.
He led them along a straight way to a city where they could live.
8 They confess to YHWH His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
9 For He has satisfied a longing soul, And has filled a hungry soul [with] goodness.
For he gives drink to those who are thirsty, and food to those who are hungry.
10 Inhabitants of dark places and death-shade, Prisoners of affliction and of iron,
Some sat in complete darkness, prisoners of misery and bound with iron chains,
11 Because they changed the saying of God, And despised 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 And He humbles their heart with labor, They have been feeble, and there is 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 And they cry to YHWH in their adversity, He saves them from their distresses.
Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
14 He brings them out from the dark place, And death-shade, And He draws away their bands.
He brought them out of complete darkness, he broke their chains to pieces.
15 They confess to YHWH His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
16 For He has broken doors of bronze, And He has cut bars of iron.
For he breaks down the bronze doors, and cuts through the iron bars.
17 Fools, by means of their transgression, And by their iniquities, afflict themselves.
They were stupid because they rebelled; they suffered for their sins.
18 Their soul detests all food, And they come near to the gates of death,
They didn't want to eat; they were at death's door.
19 And cry to YHWH in their adversity, He saves them from their distresses,
Then they called out to the Lord for help in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
20 He sends His word and heals them, And delivers [them] from their destructions.
He gave the command and he healed them; he saved them from the grave.
21 They confess to YHWH His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
22 And they sacrifice sacrifices of thanksgiving, And recount His works with singing.
Let them present thank offerings and sing with joy about what he has done.
23 Those going 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 They have seen 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 And He commands, and appoints a storm, And it lifts up its billows,
He only had to speak to cause a stormy wind that stirred up towering waves,
26 They go up [to] the heavens, they go down [to] the depths, Their soul is melted in evil.
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 move 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 And they cry to YHWH in their adversity, And He brings them out from their distresses.
Then they cried out to the Lord to help them in their troubles, and he saved them from their suffering.
29 He calms a whirlwind, And their billows are hushed.
He calmed the storm, the waves were quiet.
30 And they rejoice because they are quiet, And He leads them to the haven of their desire.
The sailors were so happy when it all calmed down, and he brought them to the harbor they wanted.
31 They confess to YHWH His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,
Let them praise the Lord for his trustworthy love, and for all the wonderful things he does for people.
32 And they exalt Him in [the] assembly of [the] people, And praise Him in [the] seat of [the] elderly.
Let them say how wonderful he is in front of the whole congregation and the elders.
33 He makes rivers become a wilderness, And fountains of waters become 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 becomes a barren place, For the wickedness of its inhabitants.
Fruitful ground becomes a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those living there.
35 He makes a wilderness become a pool of water, And a dry land become fountains of waters.
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 He causes the hungry to dwell there, And they prepare a city 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 make fruits 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 does not diminish their livestock.
He takes care of them, and their numbers increase dramatically—their cattle too!
39 And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and sorrow.
When they become few, brought low by oppression, misery, and sorrow,
40 He is pouring contempt on nobles, And causes them to wander in vacancy—no way.
He pours out his contempt on their leaders, making them wander, lost in the wilderness.
41 And sets the needy on high from affliction, And places families as a flock.
But he lifts the poor out of their troubles, and makes their families as big as flocks.
42 The upright see and rejoice, And all perversity has shut 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 observes these? They understand the kind acts of YHWH!
Those who are wise will pay attention to all this, and thoughtfully reflect on the Lord's trustworthy love.
