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Book V

Psalms 107–150

107 Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
    His faithful love continues forever.
Let those who have been set free by the Lord tell their story.
    He set them free from the power of the enemy.
He brought them back from other lands.
    He brought them back from east and west, from north and south.

Some of them wandered in deserts that were dry and empty.
    They couldn’t find a city where they could make their homes.
They were hungry and thirsty.
    Their lives were slipping away.
Then they cried out to the Lord because of their problems.
    And he saved them from their troubles.
He led them straight
    to a city where they could make their homes.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love.
    Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people.
He gives those who are thirsty all the water they want.
    He gives those who are hungry all the good food they can eat.

10 Others lived in the deepest darkness.
    They suffered as prisoners in iron chains.
11 That’s because they hadn’t obeyed the commands of God.
    They had refused to follow the plans of the Most High God.
12 So he made them do work that was hard and bitter.
    They tripped and fell, and there was no one to help them.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord because of their problems.
    And he saved them from their troubles.
14 He brought them out of the deepest darkness.
    He broke their chains off.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love.
    Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people.
16 He breaks down gates that are made of bronze.
    He cuts through bars that are made of iron.

17 Others were foolish. They suffered because of their sins.
    They suffered because they wouldn’t obey the Lord.
18 They refused to eat anything.
    They came close to passing through the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord because of their problems.
    And he saved them from their troubles.
20 He gave his command and healed them.
    He saved them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love.
    Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings.
    Let them talk about what he has done as they sing with joy.

23 Some people sailed out on the ocean in ships.
    They traded goods on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord.
    They saw the wonderful deeds he did on the ocean.
25 He spoke and stirred up a storm.
    It lifted the waves high.
26 They rose up to the heavens. Then they went down deep into the ocean.
    In that kind of danger the people’s boldness melted away.
27 They were unsteady like people who have become drunk.
    They didn’t know what to do.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord because of their problems.
    And he brought them out of their troubles.
29 He made the storm as quiet as a whisper.
    The waves of the ocean calmed down.
30 The people were glad when the ocean became calm.
    Then he guided them to the harbor they were looking for.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love.
    Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people.
32 Let them honor him among his people who gather for worship.
    Let them praise him in the meeting of the elders.

33 He turned rivers into a desert.
    He turned flowing springs into thirsty ground.
34 He turned land that produced crops into a salty land where nothing could grow.
    He did it because the people who lived there were evil.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water.
    He turned the dry and cracked ground into flowing springs.
36 He brought hungry people there to live.
    They built a city where they could make their homes.
37 They planted fields and vineyards
    that produced large crops.
38 He blessed the people, and they greatly increased their numbers.
    He kept their herds from getting smaller.

39 Then the number of God’s people got smaller.
    They were made humble by trouble, suffering and sorrow.
40 The God who looks down on proud nobles
    made them wander in a desert where no one lives.
41 But he lifted needy people out of their suffering.
    He made their families increase like flocks of sheep.
42 Honest people see it and are filled with joy.
    But no one who is evil has anything to say.

43 Let those who are wise pay attention to these things.
    Let them think about the loving deeds of the Lord.

BOOK V

Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107

Give thanks to the Lord,(A) for he is good;(B)
    his love endures forever.

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:3 Hebrew north and the sea
  2. Psalm 107:29 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text / their waves

107 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.