BOOK FIVE

Psalms 107–150

Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance

107 Oh, (A)give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His [a]mercy endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
And (B)gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

They wandered in (C)the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
(D)Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
And He led them forth by the (E)right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
(F)Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For (G)He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Those who (H)sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
(I)Bound[b] in affliction and irons—
11 Because they (J)rebelled against the words of God,
And [c]despised (K)the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was (L)none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 (M)He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has (N)broken the gates of bronze,
And cut the bars of iron in two.

17 Fools, (O)because of their transgression,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 (P)Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
And they (Q)drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 (R)He sent His word and (S)healed them,
And (T)delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 (U)Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And (V)declare His works with [d]rejoicing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters,
24 They see the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He commands and (W)raises the stormy wind,
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 They mount up to the heavens,
They go down again to the depths;
(X)Their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
And [e]are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 (Y)He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.
31 (Z)Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also (AA)in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.

33 He (AB)turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A (AC)fruitful land into [f]barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 (AD)He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 (AE)He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle (AF)decrease.

39 When they are (AG)diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 (AH)He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 (AI)Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And (AJ)makes their families like a flock.
42 (AK)The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all (AL)iniquity stops its mouth.

43 (AM)Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:1 Heb. same as goodness, vv. 8, 15, 21, 31, and lovingkindness, v. 43
  2. Psalm 107:10 Prisoners
  3. Psalm 107:11 scorned
  4. Psalm 107:22 joyful singing
  5. Psalm 107:27 Lit. all their wisdom is swallowed up
  6. Psalm 107:34 Lit. a salty waste

107 `Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age [is] His kindness:'

Let the redeemed of Jehovah say, Whom He redeemed from the hand of an adversary.

And from the lands hath gathered them, From east and from west, From north, and from the sea.

They wandered in a wilderness, in a desert by the way, A city of habitation they have not found.

Hungry -- yea -- thirsty, Their soul in them becometh feeble,

And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distress He delivereth them,

And causeth them to tread in a right way, To go unto a city of habitation.

They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.

For He hath satisfied a longing soul, And a hungry soul hath filled [with] goodness.

10 Inhabitants of dark places and death-shade, Prisoners of affliction and of iron,

11 Because they changed the saying of God, And the counsel of the Most High despised.

12 And He humbleth with labour their heart, They have been feeble, and there is no helper.

13 And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them.

14 He bringeth them out from the dark place, And death-shade, And their bands He draweth away.

15 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.

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.

18 All food doth their soul abominate, And they come nigh unto the gates of death,

19 And cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them,

20 He sendeth His word and healeth them, And delivereth from their destructions.

21 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,

22 And they sacrifice sacrifices of thanksgiving, And recount His works with singing.

23 Those going down [to] the sea in ships, Doing business in many waters,

24 They have seen the works of Jehovah, And His wonders in the deep.

25 And He saith, and appointeth a tempest, And it lifteth up its billows,

26 They go up [to] the heavens, they go down [to] the depths, Their soul in evil is melted.

27 They reel to and fro, and move as a drunkard, And all their wisdom is swallowed up.

28 And they cry to Jehovah in their adversity, And from their distresses He bringeth them out.

29 He establisheth a whirlwind to a calm, And hushed are their billows.

30 And they rejoice because they are quiet, And He leadeth them to the haven of their desire.

31 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,

32 And they exalt Him in the assembly of the people, And in the seat of the elders praise Him.

33 He maketh rivers become a wilderness, And fountains of waters become dry land.

34 A fruitful land becometh a barren place, For the wickedness of its inhabitants.

35 He maketh a wilderness become a pool of water, And a dry land become fountains of waters.

36 And He causeth the hungry to dwell there, And they prepare a city of habitation.

37 And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, And they make fruits of increase.

38 And He blesseth them, and they multiply exceedingly, And their cattle He doth not diminish.

39 And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and sorrow.

40 He is pouring contempt upon nobles, And causeth them to wander in vacancy -- no way.

41 And setteth on high the needy from affliction, And placeth families as a flock.

42 The upright do see and rejoice, And all perversity hath shut her mouth.

43 Who [is] wise, and observeth these? They understand the kind acts of Jehovah!

107 Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.

He brought the exiles back from the farthest corners of the earth. They were wandering homeless in the desert, hungry and thirsty and faint. “Lord, help!” they cried, and he did! He led them straight to safety and a place to live. Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for his loving-kindness, and for all of his wonderful deeds! For he satisfies the thirsty soul and fills the hungry soul with good.

10 Who are these who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death, crushed by misery and slavery? 11 They rebelled against the Lord, scorning him who is the God above all gods. 12 That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell and none could help them rise again. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their troubles, and he rescued them! 14 He led them from the darkness and shadow of death and snapped their chains. 15 Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for his loving-kindness and for all of his wonderful deeds! 16 For he broke down their prison gates of brass and cut apart their iron bars.

17 Others, the fools, were ill because of their sinful ways. 18 Their appetites were gone, and death was near. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their troubles, and he helped them and delivered them. 20 He spoke, and they were healed—snatched from the door of death. 21 Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for his loving-kindness and for all of his wonderful deeds! 22 Let them tell him thank you as their sacrifice and sing about his glorious deeds.

23 And then there are the sailors sailing the seven seas, plying the trade routes of the world. 24 They, too, observe the power of God in action. 25 He calls to the storm winds; the waves rise high. 26 Their ships are tossed to the heavens and sink again to the depths; the sailors cringe in terror. 27 They reel and stagger like drunkards and are at their wit’s end. 28 Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them. 29 He calms the storm and stills the waves. 30 What a blessing is that stillness as he brings them safely into harbor! 31 Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for his loving-kindness and for all of his wonderful deeds! 32 Let them praise him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.

33 He dries up rivers 34 and turns the good land of the wicked into deserts of salt. 35 Again, he turns deserts into fertile, watered valleys. 36 He brings the hungry to settle there and build their cities, 37 to sow their fields and plant their vineyards, and reap their bumper crops! 38 How he blesses them! They raise big families there and many cattle.

39 But others become poor through oppression, trouble, and sorrow. 40 For God pours contempt upon the haughty and causes princes to wander among ruins; 41 but he rescues the poor who are godly and gives them many children and much prosperity. 42 Good men everywhere will see it and be glad, while evil men are stricken silent.

43 Listen, if you are wise, to what I am saying. Think about the loving-kindness of the Lord!