Psalms 107
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy [endures] for ever.
2 Those whom Yahweh has saved should tell others that he has rescued them from their enemies.
Let them say [so] who have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 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.
and gathered them out of the countries, from the east, and west, and north, and south.
4 Some of those [who returned from those countries] wandered in the desert; they were lost and had no homes to live in.
They wandered in the wilderness in a dry land; they found no way to a city of habitation.
5 They were hungry and thirsty, and they were very discouraged.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 When they were in trouble, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from (being distressed/their difficulties).
Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 He led them along a straight road [where they walked safely] to cities [in Canaan] where they could live.
And he guided them into a straight path, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 They should praise/thank Yahweh for loving them faithfully and for the wonderful things that he does for people.
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
9 He gives thirsty people plenty [of water] to drink, and he gives hungry people plenty of good things [to eat].
For he satisfies the empty soul, and fills the hungry [soul] with good things,
10 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].
[even] them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, fettered in poverty and iron;
11 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.
because they rebelled against the words of God, and provoked the counsel of the Most High.
12 [That is why] their bodies were worn out from hard labor; when they fell down, there was no one who would help them.
So their heart was brought low with troubles; they were weak, and there was no helper.
13 In their troubles, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He broke the chains that were on their hands and feet; and brought them out of those very dark [prisons].
And he brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds asunder.
15 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.
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and his wonders to the children of men.
For he broke to pieces the brazen gates, and crushed the iron bars.
17 Some of them foolishly rebelled [against God], so they suffered for their sins.
He helped them out of the way of their iniquity; for they were brought low because of their iniquities.
18 They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
Their soul abhorred all meat; and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction, and he saved them out of their distresses.
20 When he commanded that they be healed, they were healed; he saved them from dying.
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them out of their destructions.
21 They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving them, and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
22 They should give offerings to him to show that they are thankful, and they should sing joyfully about the miracles that he has performed.
And let them offer to him the sacrifice of praise, and proclaim this works with exultation.
23 Some of them sailed in ships; they were selling things [in ports] throughout the world.
They that go down to the sea in ships, doing business in many waters;
24 [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.
these [men] have seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
25 He commanded the winds, and they became strong and (stirred up high waves/caused waves to rise high).
He speaks, and the stormy wind arises, and its waves are lifted up.
26 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.
They go up to the heavens, and go down to the depths; their soul melts because of troubles.
27 They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
They are troubled, they stagger as a drunkard, and all their wisdom is swallowed up.
28 In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their distresses.
Then they cry to the Lord in their affliction, and he brings them out of their distresses.
29 He (calmed the storm/caused the wind to stop blowing), and he caused the waves to completely subside.
And he commands the storm, and it is calmed into a gentle breeze, and its waves are still.
30 They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
And they are glad, because they are quiet; and he guides them to their desire haven.
31 They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving [them], and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
32 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].
Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.
33 [Sometimes] Yahweh causes rivers [to become dry], [with the result that the land] becomes a desert, and springs of water become dry land.
He turns rivers into a desert, and streams of water into a dry land;
34 [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.
a fruitful land into saltness, for the wickedness of them that dwell in it.
35 [But sometimes] he causes pools of water to appear in deserts, and he causes springs to flow in very dry ground.
He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and a dry land into streams of water.
36 He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
And there he causes the hungry to dwell, and they establish for themselves cities of habitation.
37 They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and they yield fruit of increase.
38 He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
And he blesses them, and they multiply exceedingly, and he diminishes not the number of their cattle.
39 When the number of people becomes smaller and they have been humiliated [by their enemies] by being oppressed and caused to suffer [DOU],
Again they become few, and are brought low, by the pressure of evils and pain.
40 Yahweh shows contempt for the leaders who oppress them, and causes them to wander in deserts where there are no roads.
Contempt is poured upon their princes, and he causes them to wander in a desert and trackless land.
41 But he rescues poor [people] from (being in misery/suffering), and causes their families [to increase in number] like flocks of sheep.
But he helps the poor out of poverty, and makes [him] families as a flock.
42 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.
The upright shall see and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 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].
Who is wise, and will observe these things, and understand the mercies of the Lord?
