² Let the redeemed^(C) of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
³ those he gathered^(D) from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.^[a]

⁴ Some wandered in desert^(E) wastelands,
    finding no way to a city^(F) where they could settle.
⁵ They were hungry^(G) and thirsty,^(H)
    and their lives ebbed away.
⁶ Then they cried out^(I) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He led them by a straight way^(J)
    to a city^(K) where they could settle.
⁸ Let them give thanks^(L) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(M)
    and his wonderful deeds^(N) for mankind,
⁹ for he satisfies^(O) the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.^(P)

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness,^(Q) in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering^(R) in iron chains,^(S)
11 because they rebelled^(T) against God’s commands
    and despised^(U) the plans^(V) of the Most High.
¹² So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.^(W)
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them^(X) from their distress.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness,^(Y) the utter darkness,^(Z)
    and broke away their chains.^(AA)
15 Let them give thanks^(AB) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(AC)
    and his wonderful deeds^(AD) for mankind,
¹⁶ for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

¹⁷ Some became fools^(AE) through their rebellious ways^(AF)
    and suffered affliction^(AG) because of their iniquities.
¹⁸ They loathed all food^(AH)
    and drew near the gates of death.^(AI)
19 Then they cried^(AJ) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them^(AK) from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word^(AL) and healed them;^(AM)
    he rescued^(AN) them from the grave.^(AO)
21 Let them give thanks^(AP) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(AQ)
    and his wonderful deeds^(AR) for mankind.
²² Let them sacrifice thank offerings^(AS)
    and tell of his works^(AT) with songs of joy.^(AU)

²³ Some went out on the sea^(AV) in ships;^(AW)
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴ They saw the works of the Lord,^(AX)
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵ For he spoke^(AY) and stirred up a tempest^(AZ)
    that lifted high the waves.^(BA)
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril^(BB) their courage melted^(BC) away.
²⁷ They reeled^(BD) and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried^(BE) out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.^(BF)
29 He stilled the storm^(BG) to a whisper;
    the waves^(BH) of the sea^[b] were hushed.^(BI)
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them^(BJ) to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them give thanks^(BK) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(BL)
    and his wonderful deeds^(BM) for mankind.
³² Let them exalt^(BN) him in the assembly^(BO) of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

³³ He turned rivers into a desert,^(BP)
    flowing springs^(BQ) into thirsty ground,
³⁴ and fruitful land into a salt waste,^(BR)
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
³⁵ He turned the desert into pools of water^(BS)
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;^(BT)
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
³⁷ They sowed fields and planted vineyards^(BU)
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
³⁸ he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,^(BV)
    and he did not let their herds diminish.^(BW)

³⁹ Then their numbers decreased,^(BX) and they were humbled^(BY)
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
⁴⁰ he who pours contempt on nobles^(BZ)
    made them wander in a trackless waste.^(CA)
41 But he lifted the needy^(CB) out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.^(CC)
42 The upright see and rejoice,^(CD)
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.^(CE)

⁴³ Let the one who is wise^(CF) heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds^(CG) of the Lord.

⁶ Save us and help us with your right hand,^(CR)
    that those you love may be delivered.
⁷ God has spoken^(CS) from his sanctuary:^(CT)
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem^(CU)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.^(CV)
8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah^(CW) is my scepter.
⁹ Moab^(CX) is my washbasin,
    on Edom^(CY) I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia^(CZ) I shout in triumph.”

¹⁰ Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹¹ Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?^(DA)
12 Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.^(DB)
13 With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down^(DC) our enemies.

⁶ Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;
    let an accuser^(DL) stand at his right hand.
⁷ When he is tried, let him be found guilty,^(DM)
    and may his prayers condemn^(DN) him.
⁸ May his days be few;^(DO)
    may another take his place^(DP) of leadership.
⁹ May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow.^(DQ)
10 May his children be wandering beggars;^(DR)
    may they be driven^[d] from their ruined homes.
¹¹ May a creditor^(DS) seize all he has;
    may strangers plunder^(DT) the fruits of his labor.^(DU)
12 May no one extend kindness to him
    or take pity^(DV) on his fatherless children.
¹³ May his descendants be cut off,^(DW)
    their names blotted out^(DX) from the next generation.
¹⁴ May the iniquity of his fathers^(DY) be remembered before the Lord;
    may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
¹⁵ May their sins always remain before^(DZ) the Lord,
    that he may blot out their name^(EA) from the earth.

¹⁶ For he never thought of doing a kindness,
    but hounded to death the poor
    and the needy^(EB) and the brokenhearted.^(EC)
17 He loved to pronounce a curse—
    may it come back on him.^(ED)
He found no pleasure in blessing—
    may it be far from him.
¹⁸ He wore cursing^(EE) as his garment;
    it entered into his body like water,^(EF)
    into his bones like oil.
¹⁹ May it be like a cloak wrapped^(EG) about him,
    like a belt tied forever around him.
²⁰ May this be the Lord’s payment^(EH) to my accusers,
    to those who speak evil^(EI) of me.

²¹ But you, Sovereign Lord,
    help me for your name’s sake;^(EJ)
    out of the goodness of your love,^(EK) deliver me.^(EL)
22 For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is wounded within me.
²³ I fade away like an evening shadow;^(EM)
    I am shaken off like a locust.
²⁴ My knees give^(EN) way from fasting;^(EO)
    my body is thin and gaunt.^(EP)
25 I am an object of scorn^(EQ) to my accusers;
    when they see me, they shake their heads.^(ER)

²⁶ Help me,^(ES) Lord my God;
    save me according to your unfailing love.
²⁷ Let them know^(ET) that it is your hand,
    that you, Lord, have done it.
²⁸ While they curse,^(EU) may you bless;
    may those who attack me be put to shame,
    but may your servant rejoice.^(EV)
29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
    and wrapped in shame^(EW) as in a cloak.

³⁰ With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
    in the great throng^(EX) of worshipers I will praise him.
³¹ For he stands at the right hand^(EY) of the needy,
    to save their lives from those who would condemn them.