Psalms 107
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
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 [so], 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.
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from 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 wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
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 trouble, [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 led them forth by the right way, 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.
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [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 longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
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].
Such as sit in darkness and in the shades 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 rebelled against the words of God, and contemned 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.
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; 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.
Then 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 shades of death, and broke 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.
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [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.
Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
Their soul abhorreth all manner of food; and they draw 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 cry to the LORD in their trouble, he saveth 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] from their destructions.
21 They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving them, and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [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.
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
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, that do business on 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).
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up its 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 heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
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 bringeth 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 maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves [of the sea] are still.
30 They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
Then are they glad because they are quiet; so 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.
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [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 exalt him also 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 wilderness, and the water-springs 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 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 turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water-springs.
36 He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied 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],
Again, they are diminished and brought low through 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 the wilderness, [where there is] no way.
41 But he rescues poor [people] from (being in misery/suffering), and causes their families [to increase in number] like flocks of sheep.
Yet he setteth the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him 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 shall see [it], 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].
Whoever [is] wise, and will observe these [things], even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the LORD.
