Psalms 107
1 Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness for his kindness endures forever.
Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
2 Let this be the song of the ransomed, whom the Lord has redeemed from distress,
Those whom Yahweh has saved should tell others that he has rescued them from their enemies.
3 gathering them from all lands, east, west, north, and 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 In the wastes of the desert some wandered, finding no way to a city inhabited.
Some of those [who returned from those countries] wandered in the desert; they were lost and had no homes to live in.
5 Full of hunger and thirst, their spirit failed.
They were hungry and thirsty, and they were very discouraged.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses,
When they were in trouble, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from (being distressed/their difficulties).
7 guiding them straight on the way, till they reached an inhabited city.
He led them along a straight road [where they walked safely] to cities [in Canaan] where they could live.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people;
They should praise/thank Yahweh for loving them faithfully and for the wonderful things that he does for people.
9 for the thirsty he satisfies, and the hungry he fills with good things.
He gives thirsty people plenty [of water] to drink, and he gives hungry people plenty of good things [to eat].
10 Some sat in darkness and gloom prisoners in irons and misery,
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 rebelling against God’s word, and spurning the Most High’s counsel.
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 Their heart was bowed with toil; there was no one to help when they stumbled.
[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 to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses.
In their troubles, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
14 Out of darkness and gloom he brought them, and burst their chains.
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 kindness, for his wonderful deeds 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 shattered the gates of bronze, and broke bars of iron.
17 Some were sick from their wicked ways, and suffering because of their sins.
Some of them foolishly rebelled [against God], so they suffered for their sins.
18 All manner of food they hated; they had come to the gates of death.
They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from 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 their life from the pit.
When he commanded that they be healed, they were healed; he saved them from dying.
21 Let them praise the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds 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 offer to him thankofferings, and with joy tell what things 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 Some crossed the sea in ships, doing business in great waters.
Some of them sailed in ships; they were selling things [in ports] throughout the world.
24 They have seen what the Lord can do, and his wonderful deeds on 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 At his command rose a tempest, which lifted the waves on high.
He commanded the winds, and they became strong and (stirred up high waves/caused waves to rise high).
26 Up to heaven they went, down to the depths; their courage failed them.
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 and reeled like drunkards; all their skills useless.
They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses.
In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their distresses.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
He (calmed the storm/caused the wind to stop blowing), and he caused the waves to completely subside.
30 They were glad, because it was quiet; they were led to the haven they longed for.
They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
31 Let them praise the Lord, for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people.
They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving [them], and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
32 Where the people assemble, extol him, and praise him in council of 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 turns streams into a wilderness, springs of water into thirsty land,
[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 land into a salt waste, because of the sin of the people.
[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 A desert he makes pools of water, a land of drought into springs of water.
[But sometimes] he causes pools of water to appear in deserts, and he causes springs to flow in very dry ground.
36 He settles the hungry therein, they establish a city to live in.
He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
37 They sow fields and plant vineyards, which furnish a fruitful yield.
They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he lets not their cattle decrease.
He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
39 Yet when they are bowed and diminished by oppression, misfortune, or 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 contempt upon princes, and on trackless wastes leads them astray
Yahweh shows contempt for the leaders who oppress them, and causes them to wander in deserts where there are no roads.
41 He lifts the poor out of misery, and makes families fruitful 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 At this sight shall the upright be glad, and all wicked mouths shall be stopped.
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 Let those who are wise observe this, and consider the love 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].
