Psalms 107
1 'Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age [is] His kindness:'
Give thanks to Yahweh, because he always does good [things for us] His faithful love [for us] lasts forever!
2 Let the redeemed of Jehovah say, Whom He redeemed from the hand of an adversary.
Those whom Yahweh has saved should tell others that he has rescued them from their enemies.
3 And from the lands hath gathered them, From east and from west, From north, and from the sea.
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 They wandered in a wilderness, in a desert by the way, A city of habitation they have not found.
Some of those [who returned from those countries] wandered in the desert; they were lost and had no homes to live in.
5 Hungry — yea — thirsty, Their soul in them becometh feeble,
They were hungry and thirsty, and they were very discouraged.
6 And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distress He delivereth them,
When they were in trouble, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from (being distressed/their difficulties).
7 And causeth them to tread in a right way, To go unto a city of habitation.
He led them along a straight road [where they walked safely] to cities [in Canaan] where they could live.
8 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.
They should praise/thank Yahweh for loving them faithfully and for the wonderful things that he does for people.
9 For He hath satisfied a longing soul, And a hungry soul hath filled [with] goodness.
He gives thirsty people plenty [of water] to drink, and he gives hungry people plenty of good things [to eat].
10 Inhabitants of dark places and death-shade, Prisoners of affliction and of iron,
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 Because they changed the saying of God, And the counsel of the Most High despised.
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 And He humbleth with labour their heart, They have been feeble, and there is no helper.
[That is why] their bodies were worn out from hard labor; when they fell down, there was no one who would help them.
13 And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them.
In their troubles, they called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
14 He bringeth them out from the dark place, And death-shade, And their bands He draweth away.
He broke the chains that were on their hands and feet; and brought them out of those very dark [prisons].
15 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.
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 hath broken doors of brass, And bars of iron He hath cut.
17 Fools, by means of their transgression, And by their iniquities, afflict themselves.
Some of them foolishly rebelled [against God], so they suffered for their sins.
18 All food doth their soul abominate, And they come nigh unto the gates of death,
They did not want to eat any food, and they almost died.
19 And cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them,
In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their being distressed.
20 He sendeth His word and healeth them, And delivereth from their destructions.
When he commanded that they be healed, they were healed; he saved them from dying.
21 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,
They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving them, and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
22 And they sacrifice sacrifices of thanksgiving, And recount His works with singing.
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 Those going down [to] the sea in ships, Doing business in many waters,
Some of them sailed in ships; they were selling things [in ports] throughout the world.
24 They have seen the works of Jehovah, And His wonders in 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 And He saith, and appointeth a tempest, And it lifteth up its billows,
He commanded the winds, and they became strong and (stirred up high waves/caused waves to rise high).
26 They go up [to] the heavens, they go down [to] the depths, Their soul in evil is melted.
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 reel to and fro, and move as a drunkard, And all their wisdom is swallowed up.
They stumbled about and staggered like drunken men, and they did not know what to do.
28 And they cry to Jehovah in their adversity, And from their distresses He bringeth them out.
In their troubles, they [also] called out to Yahweh, and he rescued them from their distresses.
29 He establisheth a whirlwind to a calm, And hushed are their billows.
He (calmed the storm/caused the wind to stop blowing), and he caused the waves to completely subside.
30 And they rejoice because they are quiet, And He leadeth them to the haven of their desire.
They were [very] glad when it became calm; and Yahweh brought them safely into a harbor.
31 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,
They [also] should praise/thank Yahweh for faithfully loving [them], and for [all] the wonderful things that he does for people.
32 And they exalt Him in the assembly of the people, And in the seat of the elders praise Him.
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 maketh rivers become a wilderness, And fountains of waters become dry 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 A fruitful land becometh a barren place, For the wickedness of its inhabitants.
[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 He maketh a wilderness become a pool of water, And a dry land become fountains of waters.
[But sometimes] he causes pools of water to appear in deserts, and he causes springs to flow in very dry ground.
36 And He causeth the hungry to dwell there, And they prepare a city of habitation.
He brings hungry [people] into that land, to live there and build cities [there].
37 And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, And they make fruits of increase.
They plant seeds in their fields, and they plant grapevines that produce big crops [of grapes].
38 And He blesseth them, and they multiply exceedingly, And their cattle He doth not diminish.
He blesses the people, and the women give birth to many children, and they have large herds of cattle.
39 And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and 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 is pouring contempt upon nobles, And causeth them to wander in vacancy — no way.
Yahweh shows contempt for the leaders who oppress them, and causes them to wander in deserts where there are no roads.
41 And setteth on high the needy from affliction, And placeth families as a flock.
But he rescues poor [people] from (being in misery/suffering), and causes their families [to increase in number] like flocks of sheep.
42 The upright do see and rejoice, And all perversity hath shut her mouth.
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 Who [is] wise, and observeth these? They understand the kind acts of Jehovah!
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].
