< Psalmorum 107 >
1 Alleluia. Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus: quoniam in sæculum misericordia eius.
Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness for his kindness endures forever.
2 Dicant qui redempti sunt a Domino, quos redemit de manu inimici: et de regionibus congregavit eos:
Let this be the song of the ransomed, whom the Lord has redeemed from distress,
3 A solis ortu, et occasu: ab Aquilone, et mari.
gathering them from all lands, east, west, north, and south.
4 Erraverunt in solitudine in inaquoso: viam civitatis habitaculi non invenerunt,
In the wastes of the desert some wandered, finding no way to a city inhabited.
5 Esurientes, et sitientes: anima eorum in ipsis defecit.
Full of hunger and thirst, their spirit failed.
6 Et clamaverunt ad Dominum cum tribularentur: et de necessitatibus eorum eripuit eos.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses,
7 Et deduxit eos in viam rectam: ut irent in civitatem habitationis.
guiding them straight on the way, till they reached an inhabited city.
8 Confiteantur Domino misericordiæ eius: et mirabilia eius filiis hominum.
Let them thank the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people;
9 Quia satiavit animam inanem: et animam esurientem satiavit bonis.
for the thirsty he satisfies, and the hungry he fills with good things.
10 Sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis: vinctos in mendicitate, et ferro.
Some sat in darkness and gloom prisoners in irons and misery,
11 Quia exacerbaverunt eloquia Dei: et consilium Altissimi irritaverunt.
for rebelling against God’s word, and spurning the Most High’s counsel.
12 Et humiliatum est in laboribus cor eorum: infirmati sunt, nec fuit qui adiuvaret.
Their heart was bowed with toil; there was no one to help when they stumbled.
13 Et clamaverunt ad Dominum cum tribularentur: et de necessitatibus eorum liberavit eos.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses.
14 Et eduxit eos de tenebris, et umbra mortis: et vincula eorum dirupit.
Out of darkness and gloom he brought them, and burst their chains.
15 Confiteantur Domino misericordiæ eius: et mirabilia eius filiis hominum.
Let them praise the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people.
16 Quia contrivit portas æreas: et vectes ferreos confregit.
For he shattered the gates of bronze, and broke bars of iron.
17 Suscepit eos de via iniquitatis eorum: propter iniustitias enim suas humiliati sunt.
Some were sick from their wicked ways, and suffering because of their sins.
18 Omnem escam abominata est anima eorum: et appropinquaverunt usque ad portas mortis.
All manner of food they hated; they had come to the gates of death.
19 Et clamaverunt ad Dominum cum tribularentur: et de necessitatibus eorum liberavit eos.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses.
20 Misit verbum suum, et sanavit eos: et eripuit eos de interitionibus eorum.
He sent his word and healed them, and delivered their life from the pit.
21 Confiteantur Domino misericordiæ eius: et mirabilia eius filiis hominum.
Let them praise the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people.
22 Et sacrificent sacrificium laudis: et annuncient opera eius in exultatione.
Let them offer to him thankofferings, and with joy tell what things he has done.
23 Qui descendunt mare in navibus, facientes operationem in aquis multis.
Some crossed the sea in ships, doing business in great waters.
24 Ipsi viderunt opera Domini, et mirabilia eius in profundo.
They have seen what the Lord can do, and his wonderful deeds on the deep.
25 Dixit, et stetit spiritus procellæ: et exaltati sunt fluctus eius.
At his command rose a tempest, which lifted the waves on high.
26 Ascendunt usque ad cælos, et descendunt usque ad abyssos: anima eorum in malis tabescebat.
Up to heaven they went, down to the depths; their courage failed them.
27 Turbati sunt, et moti sunt sicut ebrius: et omnis sapientia eorum devorata est.
They staggered and reeled like drunkards; all their skills useless.
28 Et clamaverunt ad Dominum cum tribularentur, et de necessitatibus eorum eduxit eos.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses.
29 Et statuit procellam eius in auram: et siluerunt fluctus eius.
He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Et lætati sunt quia siluerunt: et deduxit eos in portum voluntatis eorum.
They were glad, because it was quiet; they were led to the haven they longed for.
31 Confiteantur Domino misericordiæ eius: et mirabilia eius filiis hominum.
Let them praise the Lord, for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people.
32 Et exaltent eum in Ecclesia plebis: et in cathedra seniorum laudent eum.
Where the people assemble, extol him, and praise him in council of elders.
33 Posuit flumina in desertum: et exitus aquarum in sitim.
He turns streams into a wilderness, springs of water into thirsty land,
34 Terram fructiferam in salsuginem, a malitia inhabitantium in ea.
fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the sin of the people.
35 Posuit desertum in stagna aquarum: et terram sine aqua in exitus aquarum.
A desert he makes pools of water, a land of drought into springs of water.
36 Et collocavit illic esurientes: et constituerunt civitatem habitationis.
He settles the hungry therein, they establish a city to live in.
37 Et seminaverunt agros, et plantaverunt vineas: et fecerunt fructum nativitatis.
They sow fields and plant vineyards, which furnish a fruitful yield.
38 Et benedixit eis, et multiplicati sunt nimis: et iumenta eorum non minoravit.
By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he lets not their cattle decrease.
39 Et pauci facti sunt: et vexati sunt a tribulatione malorum, et dolore.
Yet when they are bowed and diminished by oppression, misfortune, or sorrow,
40 Effusa est contemptio super principes: et errare fecit eos in invio, et non in via.
he pours contempt upon princes, and on trackless wastes leads them astray
41 Et adiuvit pauperem de inopia: et posuit sicut oves familias.
He lifts the poor out of misery, and makes families fruitful as flocks.
42 Videbunt recti, et lætabuntur: et omnis iniquitas oppilabit os suum.
At this sight shall the upright be glad, and all wicked mouths shall be stopped.
43 Quis sapiens et custodiet hæc? et intelliget misericordias Domini?
Let those who are wise observe this, and consider the love of the Lord