Psalms 107
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Those whom Yahweh has saved should tell others that he has rescued them from their enemies.
Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
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 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 desert way. They found no city to live 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 Yahweh 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.
He led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in.
8 They should praise/thank Yahweh for loving them faithfully and for the wonderful things that he does for people.
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds 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 longing soul. He fills the hungry soul 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].
Some sat in darkness and in 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 rebelled against the words of God, and condemned 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 no one to help.
13 In their troubles, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
Then they cried to Yahweh 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 broke away their chains.
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 praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron.
17 Some of them foolishly rebelled [against God], so they suffered for their sins.
Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities.
18 They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
Their soul abhors all kinds of food. 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 Yahweh in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses.
20 When he commanded that they be healed, they were healed; he saved them from dying.
He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves.
21 They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving them, and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds 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 deeds with singing.
23 Some of them sailed in ships; they were selling things [in ports] throughout the world.
Those who go down to the sea in ships, who 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 Yahweh’s deeds, 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 commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts 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 sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
27 They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
28 In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their distresses.
Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.
29 He (calmed the storm/caused the wind to stop blowing), and he caused the waves to completely subside.
He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.
30 They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings 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.
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds for 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 assembly 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, water springs into a thirsty 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.
and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who 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 desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs.
36 He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in,
37 They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase.
38 He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock 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 bowed down through oppression, trouble, 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 pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
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 lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases 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 upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
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 will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.
