Psalm 107

1 O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of Jehovah say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary,

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

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation.

5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,

7 He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.

10 Such as sat 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 labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried unto Jehovah 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 bonds in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, 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 food; And they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses.

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

21 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.

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

24 These see the works of Jehovah, 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 heavens, they go down again to the depths: Their soul melteth away because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cry unto Jehovah 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 are quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;

34 A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, That they may prepare a city of habitation,

37 And sow fields, and plant vineyards, And get them fruits of increase.

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

39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

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

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

42 The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah.

Psalms 107

Book 5

(Psalms 107—150)

The Lord is good to his people

1 Shout praises to the Lord!t
He is good to us,
and his love never fails.

2 Everyone the Lord has rescued
from trouble
should praise him,

3 everyone he has brought
from the east and the west,
the north and the south.t

4 Some of you were lost
in the scorching desert,
far from a town.

5 You were hungry and thirsty
and about to give up.

6 You were in serious trouble,
but you prayed to the Lord,
and he rescued you.

7 Straight away he brought you
to a town.

8 You should praise the Lord
for his love
and for the wonderful things
he does for all of us.

9 To everyone who is thirsty,
he gives something to drink;
to everyone who is hungry,
he gives good things to eat.

10 Some of you were prisoners
suffering in deepest darkness
and bound by chains,

11 because you had rebelled
against God Most High
and refused his advice.

12 You were worn out
from working like slaves,
and no one came to help.

13 You were in serious trouble,
but you prayed to the Lord,
and he rescued you.

14 He brought you out
of the deepest darkness
and broke your chains.

15 You should praise the Lord
for his love
and for the wonderful things
he does for all of us.

16 He breaks down bronze gates
and shatters iron locks.

17 Some of you had foolishly
committed a lot of sins
and were in terrible pain.

18 The very thought of food
was disgusting to you,
and you were almost dead.

19 You were in serious trouble,
but you prayed to the Lord,
and he rescued you.

20 By the power of his own word,
he healed you and saved you
from destruction.

21 You should praise the Lord
for his love
and for the wonderful things
he does for all of us.

22 You should celebrate
by offering sacrifices
and singing joyful songs
to tell what he has done.

23 Some of you made a living
by sailing the mighty sea,

24 and you saw the miracles
the Lord performed there.

25 At his command a storm arose,
and waves covered the sea.

26 You were tossed to the sky
and to the ocean depths,
until things looked so bad
that you lost your courage.

27 You staggered like drunkards
and gave up all hope.

28 You were in serious trouble,
but you prayed to the Lord,
and he rescued you.

29 He made the storm stop
and the sea be quiet.

30 You were happy because of this,
and he brought you to the port
where you wanted to go.

31 You should praise the Lord
for his love
and for the wonderful things
he does for all of us.

32 Honour the Lord
when you and your leaders
meet to worship.

33 If you start doing wrong,
the Lord will turn rivers
into deserts,

34 flowing streams
into scorched land,
and fruitful fields
into beds of salt.

35 But the Lord can also turn
deserts into lakes
and scorched land
into flowing streams.

36 If you are hungry,
you can settle there
and build a town.

37 You can plant fields
and vineyards that produce
a good harvest.

38 The Lord will bless you
with many children
and with herds of cattle.

39 Sometimes you may be crushed
by troubles and sorrows,
until only a few of you
are left to survive.

40 But the Lord will take revenge
on those who conquer you,
and he will make them wander
across desert sands.

41 When you are suffering
and in need,
he will come to your rescue,
and your families will grow
as fast as a herd of sheep.

42 You will see this because
you obey the Lord,
but everyone who is wicked
will be silenced.

43 Be wise! Remember this
and think about the kindness
of the Lord.