Psalms 107
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
“BOOK V.” O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever!
2 Those whom Yahweh has saved should tell others that he has rescued them from their enemies.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say it, Whom he hath 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.
Whom he hath gathered from the lands, From the east, the west, the north, and the 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 were wandering in the wilderness, in a desert, They found no way to a city to dwell in.
5 They were hungry and thirsty, and they were very discouraged.
They were hungry and thirsty, And their souls fainted within 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 trouble, And he delivered them out of their distress.
7 He led them along a straight road [where they walked safely] to cities [in Canaan] where they could live.
He led them in a straight way, Till they came to a city where they might dwell.
8 They should praise/thank Yahweh for loving them faithfully and for the wonderful things that he does for people.
O let them praise the LORD for his goodness, For 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 satisfieth the thirsty, And the hungry he filleth with good.
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].
They dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction 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 disobeyed the commands of God, And contemned the will 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.
Their hearts he brought down by hardship; They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 In their troubles, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
But they cried to the LORD in their trouble, 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].
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bands 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.
O let them praise the LORD for his goodness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron asunder.
17 Some of them foolishly rebelled [against God], so they suffered for their sins.
The foolish, because of their transgressions, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted;
18 They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
They abhorred all kinds of food; They were 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 trouble, And he delivered 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 saved them from their destruction.
21 They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving them, and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
O let them praise the LORD for his goodness, For 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.
Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with joy!
23 Some of them sailed in ships; they were selling things [in ports] throughout the world.
They who go down to the sea in ships, And do business in great 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 see 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 commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth high the waves.
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 mount up to the heavens, They sink down to the depths, Their soul melteth with distress;
27 They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
They reel and stagger like a drunken man, And all their skill is vain.
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 trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses;
29 He (calmed the storm/caused the wind to stop blowing), and he caused the waves to completely subside.
He turneth the storm into a calm, And the waves are hushed;
30 They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
Then they rejoice that they are still, And he bringeth them to their desired haven.
31 They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving [them], and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
O let them praise the LORD for his goodness. For 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 extol him in the congregation of the people, And praise him in the assembly 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 turneth rivers into a desert, And springs of water into dry ground;
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 barrenness, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 [But sometimes] he causes pools of water to appear in deserts, and he causes springs to flow in very dry ground.
He turneth the desert into a lake of water, And dry ground into springs of water;
36 He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
And there he causeth the hungry to dwell, And they build a city for a dwelling-place,
37 They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
And sow fields and plant vineyards, Which yield a fruitful increase.
38 He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
He blesseth them, so that they multiply greatly, And suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 When the number of people becomes smaller and they have been humiliated [by their enemies] by being oppressed and caused to suffer [DOU],
When they are diminished and brought low By oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 Yahweh shows contempt for the leaders who oppress them, and causes them to wander in deserts where there are no roads.
He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in a pathless wilderness;
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 raiseth the poor from their affliction, And increaseth their families like 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 righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity shutteth 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].
Whoso is wise, let him observe this, And have regard to the loving-kindness of the LORD!
