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17 Some were fools; they rebelled
    and suffered for their sins.
18 They couldn’t stand the thought of food,
    and they were knocking on death’s door.
19 Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
    snatching them from the door of death.
21 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
    and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

23 Some went off to sea in ships,
    plying the trade routes of the world.
24 They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
    his impressive works on the deepest seas.
25 He spoke, and the winds rose,
    stirring up the waves.
26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens
    and plunged again to the depths;
    the sailors cringed in terror.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards
    and were at their wits’ end.
28 Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
29 He calmed the storm to a whisper
    and stilled the waves.
30 What a blessing was that stillness
    as he brought them safely into harbor!
31 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
32 Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation
    and before the leaders of the nation.

33 He changes rivers into deserts,
    and springs of water into dry, thirsty land.
34 He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands,
    because of the wickedness of those who live there.
35 But he also turns deserts into pools of water,
    the dry land into springs of water.
36 He brings the hungry to settle there
    and to build their cities.
37 They sow their fields, plant their vineyards,
    and harvest their bumper crops.
38 How he blesses them!
    They raise large families there,
    and their herds of livestock increase.

39 When they decrease in number and become impoverished
    through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
40 the Lord pours contempt on their princes,
    causing them to wander in trackless wastelands.
41 But he rescues the poor from trouble
    and increases their families like flocks of sheep.
42 The godly will see these things and be glad,
    while the wicked are struck silent.
43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart;
    they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

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17 Some became fools(A) through their rebellious ways(B)
    and suffered affliction(C) because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food(D)
    and drew near the gates of death.(E)
19 Then they cried(F) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them(G) from their distress.
20 He sent out his word(H) and healed them;(I)
    he rescued(J) them from the grave.(K)
21 Let them give thanks(L) to the Lord for his unfailing love(M)
    and his wonderful deeds(N) for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings(O)
    and tell of his works(P) with songs of joy.(Q)

23 Some went out on the sea(R) in ships;(S)
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,(T)
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke(U) and stirred up a tempest(V)
    that lifted high the waves.(W)
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril(X) their courage melted(Y) away.
27 They reeled(Z) and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried(AA) out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.(AB)
29 He stilled the storm(AC) to a whisper;
    the waves(AD) of the sea[a] were hushed.(AE)
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them(AF) to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks(AG) to the Lord for his unfailing love(AH)
    and his wonderful deeds(AI) for mankind.
32 Let them exalt(AJ) him in the assembly(AK) of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

33 He turned rivers into a desert,(AL)
    flowing springs(AM) into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,(AN)
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water(AO)
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;(AP)
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards(AQ)
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,(AR)
    and he did not let their herds diminish.(AS)

39 Then their numbers decreased,(AT) and they were humbled(AU)
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles(AV)
    made them wander in a trackless waste.(AW)
41 But he lifted the needy(AX) out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.(AY)
42 The upright see and rejoice,(AZ)
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.(BA)

43 Let the one who is wise(BB) heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds(BC) of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:29 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text / their waves