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Book V

(Psalms 107–150)

Psalm 107

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.(A)
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
    those he redeemed from trouble(B)
and gathered in from the lands,
    from the east and from the west,
    from the north and from the south.[a](C)

Some wandered in desert wastes,
    finding no way to an inhabited town;(D)
hungry and thirsty,
    their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress;(E)
he led them by a straight way,
    until they reached an inhabited town.(F)
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to humankind.(G)
For he satisfies the thirsty,
    and the hungry he fills with good things.(H)

10 Some sat in darkness and in gloom,
    prisoners in misery and in irons,(I)
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God
    and spurned the counsel of the Most High.(J)
12 Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor;
    they fell down, with no one to help.(K)
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress;(L)
14 he brought them out of darkness and gloom,
    and broke their bonds apart.(M)
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to humankind.(N)
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
    and cuts in two the bars of iron.(O)

17 Some were sick[b] through their sinful ways
    and because of their iniquities endured affliction;(P)
18 they loathed any kind of food,
    and they drew near to the gates of death.(Q)
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress;
20 he sent out his word and healed them
    and delivered them from destruction.(R)
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to humankind.
22 And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices
    and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.(S)

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
    doing business on the mighty waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
    his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
    which lifted up the waves of the sea.(T)
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
    their courage melted away in their calamity;(U)
27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards
    and were at their wits’ end.(V)
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out from their distress;
29 he made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea were hushed.(W)
30 Then they were glad because they had quiet,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to humankind.(X)
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people
    and praise him in the assembly of the elders.(Y)

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
    springs of water into thirsty ground,(Z)
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
    because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.(AA)
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
    a parched land into springs of water.(AB)
36 And there he lets the hungry live,
    and they establish a town to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
    and get a fruitful yield.(AC)
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
    and he does not let their cattle decrease.(AD)

39 When they are diminished and brought low
    through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,(AE)
40 he pours contempt on princes
    and makes them wander in trackless wastes,(AF)
41 but he raises up the needy out of distress
    and makes their families like flocks.(AG)
42 The upright see it and are glad,
    and all wickedness stops its mouth.(AH)
43 Let those who are wise pay attention to these things
    and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. 107.3 Cn: Heb sea
  2. 107.17 Cn: Heb fools

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!