BOOK V
(Psalms 107–150)

Psalm 107

Thanksgiving for God’s Deliverance

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.(A)
Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe(B)
and has gathered them from the lands—
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south.(C)

Some[a] wandered in the desolate wilderness,
finding no way to a city where they could live.(D)
They were hungry and thirsty;
their spirits failed[b] within them.(E)
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He rescued them from their distress.(F)
He led them by the right path
to go to a city where they could live.(G)
Let them give thanks to the Lord
for His faithful love
and His wonderful works for all humanity.(H)
For He has satisfied the thirsty
and filled the hungry with good things.(I)

10 Others[c] sat in darkness and gloom[d]
prisoners in cruel chains(J)
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the counsel of the Most High.(K)
12 He broke their spirits[e] with hard labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.(L)
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distress.(M)
14 He brought them out of darkness and gloom[f]
and broke their chains apart.(N)
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for His faithful love
and His wonderful works for all humanity.(O)
16 For He has broken down the bronze gates
and cut through the iron bars.(P)

17 Fools suffered affliction
because of their rebellious ways and their sins.(Q)
18 They loathed all food
and came near the gates of death.(R)
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distress.(S)
20 He sent His word and healed them;
He rescued them from the Pit.(T)
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for His faithful love
and His wonderful works for all humanity.(U)
22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and announce His works with shouts of joy.(V)

23 Others[g] went to sea in ships,
conducting trade on the vast waters.(W)
24 They saw the Lord’s works,
His wonderful works in the deep.(X)
25 He spoke and raised a tempest
that stirred up the waves of the sea.[h](Y)
26 Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths,
their courage[i] melting away in anguish,(Z)
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men,
and all their skill was useless.(AA)
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and He brought them out of their distress.(AB)
29 He stilled the storm to a murmur,
and the waves of the sea[j] were hushed.(AC)
30 They rejoiced when the waves[k] grew quiet.
Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.(AD)
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for His faithful love
and His wonderful works for all humanity.(AE)
32 Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people
and praise Him in the council of the elders.(AF)

33 He turns rivers into desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,(AG)
34 and fruitful land into salty wasteland,
because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.(AH)
35 He turns a desert into a pool of water,
dry land into springs of water.(AI)
36 He causes the hungry to settle there,
and they establish a city where they can live.(AJ)
37 They sow fields and plant vineyards
that yield a fruitful harvest.(AK)
38 He blesses them, and they multiply greatly;(AL)
He does not let their livestock decrease.(AM)

39 When they are diminished and are humbled
by cruel oppression and sorrow,(AN)
40 He pours contempt on nobles(AO)
and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.(AP)
41 But He lifts the needy out of their suffering(AQ)
and makes their families multiply like flocks.(AR)
42 The upright see it and rejoice,(AS)
and all injustice shuts its mouth.(AT)

43 Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things
and consider[l] the Lord’s acts of faithful love.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:4 Lit They
  2. Psalm 107:5 Lit their soul fainted
  3. Psalm 107:10 Lit They
  4. Psalm 107:10 Or the shadow of death
  5. Psalm 107:12 Lit hearts
  6. Psalm 107:14 Or the shadow of death
  7. Psalm 107:23 Lit They
  8. Psalm 107:25 Lit of it
  9. Psalm 107:26 Lit souls
  10. Psalm 107:29 Lit of them
  11. Psalm 107:30 Lit when they
  12. Psalm 107:43 Lit and let them consider

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