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Book Five

Book Five (Psalms 107–150) succinctly presents many of the major themes of the previous psalms. It tracks along Israel’s history as God’s nation, from the united monarchy, through the exile, to the restoration. Psalm 107 is a song of thanksgiving composed by those who survived exile and made their way home. As in Isaiah, the return from exile is described as a new exodus. Three Davidic psalms toward the beginning of Book Five represent the monarchy and recall Israel’s golden age. The Songs for the Journey to Worship (Psalm 120–134) are composed for use by God’s people as they traveled from their homes up to Zion to worship God at the temple. Representing their time in exile are songs of lament, heartbreaking testimonies to individuals’ pain when they are crushed by their enemies and separated from God’s blessings. Finally, Book Five concludes the collection by offering praise and thanks to God, for the story of Israel does not end with its exile and separation; rather, it ends in restoration and hope. Those who edited and compiled the Book of Psalms were relieved to be back in the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—rebuilding their temple and reestablishing their connection with God.

Psalm 107

Erupt with thanks to the Eternal, for He is good
    and His loyal love lasts forever.
Let all those redeemed by the Eternal—
    those rescued from times of deep trouble—join in giving thanks.
He has gathered them across the earth,
    from east and west,
    from [north and south].[a]

Some drifted around in the desert
    and found no place where they could live.
Their bellies growled with hunger; their mouths were dry with thirst;
    their souls grew weak and weary.
In their distress, they called out to the Eternal,
    and He saved them from their misery.
He showed them the best path; then He led them down the right road
    until they arrived at an inhabited town.
May they erupt with praise and give thanks to the Eternal
    in honor of His loyal love
And all the wonders He has performed for humankind!
He has quenched their thirst,
    and He has satisfied their hunger with what is good.

10 Some people were locked up in dark prisons, confined in gloom as bleak as death.
    They were captives bound by iron chains and misery,
11 All because they had rebelled against the directives of the True God
    and had rejected the wisdom of the Most High.
12 So they suffered the heaviness of slave labor;
    when they stumbled and fell, there was no one to help them up.
13 In their distress, they called out to the Eternal;
    He saved them from their misery.
14 He rescued them from the darkness, delivered them from the deepest gloom of death;
    He shattered their iron chains.
15 May they erupt with praise and give thanks to the Eternal
    in honor of His loyal love
And all the wonders He has performed for humankind!
16 He has broken down the bronze gates
    and severed the iron bars that imprisoned them.

17 Some people became fools infected by their rebellious ways,
    and sickness followed because of their sins.
18 Afflicted and weak, they refused any sort of food
    as they approached the gates of death.
19 In their distress, they called out to the Eternal,
    and He saved them from their misery.
20 He gave the order and healed them
    and rescued them from certain death.
21 May they erupt with praise and give thanks to the Eternal
    in honor of His loyal love
And all the wonders He has performed for humankind!
22 Let them present to Him thanksgiving sacrifices
    and tell stories of His great deeds through songs of joy.

23 Some set out to sea in ships,
    traveling across mighty seas in order to trade in foreign lands.
24 They witnessed the powerful acts of the Eternal,
    marveled at the great wonders He revealed over the deep waters.
25 For He spoke and summoned a violent wind
    that whipped up the waves of the sea.
26 Relentless waves lifted the ships high in the sky, then drove them down to the depths;
    the sailors’ courage dissolved into misery.
27 They staggered and stumbled around like drunkards,
    and they had no idea what to do.
28 In their distress, they called out to the Eternal,
    and He saved them from their misery.
29 He commanded the storm to calm down, and it became still.
    A hush came over the waves of the sea,
30 The sailors were delighted at the quiet,
    and He guided them to their port.
31 May they erupt with praise and give thanks to the Eternal
    in honor of His loyal love
And all the wonders He has performed for humankind!
32 Let them glorify Him in the assembly of His people
    and worship Him in the presence of the elders.

33 God transforms wild, flowing rivers into dry, lonely deserts,
    lively springs of water into thirsty ground.
34 He turns lush gardens into lifeless wastelands,
    all because of the wickedness of those who reside there.
35 Yet He transforms a dry, lonely desert into pools of living water,
    parched ground into lively springs.
36 And He allows those who are hungry to live there
    so that they might build a livable city.
37 There they sow fields and plant vineyards
    and gather up an abundant harvest.
38 He anoints them with His blessings, and they greatly increase in number.
    He does not allow their herds to dwindle.

39 When His people lessen in number and are humbled
    through persecution, suffering, and brokenheartedness,
40 He pours out contempt on those responsible leaders
    and then makes them drift around in an uncharted wasteland.
41 But He raises the poor away from their suffering
    and multiplies their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see God’s actions, and they take delight in what He does,
    but the unrighteous don’t dare to speak.
43 Is there anyone wise? If so, may the wise take notice of these things
    and reflect upon the loyal love of the Eternal.

Footnotes

  1. 107:3 Hebrew manuscripts read, “and the sea.”

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