107 1 The Prophet exhorteth all those that are redeemed by the Lord and gathered unto him, to give thanks, 9 for this merciful providence of God governing all things at his good pleasures, 20 sending good and evil, prosperity and adversity to bring men unto him. 42 Therefore as the righteous thereat rejoice, so shall the wicked have their mouth stopped.

Praise [a]the Lord, because he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Let them, [b]which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor,

And gathered them out of the lands, from the East and from the West, from the North and from the [c]South.

When they wandered in the desert and wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in,

[d]Both hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress,

And led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Let them therefore confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men.

For he satisfied the thirsty soul, and filled the hungry soul with goodness.

10 They that dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in misery and iron,

11 Because they [e]rebelled against the words of the Lord, and despised the counsel of the most High,

12 When he humbled their heart with heaviness, then they fell down, and there was no helper.

13 Then they [f]cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of death, and brake their bands asunder.

15 Let them therefore confess before the Lord his loving-kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men.

16 For he hath broken the [g]gates of brass, and burst the bars of iron asunder,

17 [h]Fools by reason of their transgression, and because of their iniquities are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all meat, and they are brought to death’s door.

19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivereth them from their distress.

20 [i]He sendeth his word and healeth them, and delivereth them from their [j]graves.

21 Let them therefore confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men,

22 And let them offer sacrifices of [k]praise, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23 They that go down to the [l]sea in ships, and occupy by the great waters,

24 They see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, and it lifteth up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, and descend to the deep, so that their soul [m]melteth for trouble.

27 They are tossed to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and all their [n]cunning is gone.

28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distress.

29 He turneth the storm to calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 When they are [o]quieted, they are glad, and he bringeth them unto the haven, where they would be.

31 Let them therefore confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men.

32 And let them exalt him in the [p]congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the Elders.

33 He turneth the floods to a wilderness, and the springs of waters into dryness,

34 And a fruitful land into [q]barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 Again he [r]turneth the wilderness into pools of water, and the dry land into water springs.

36 And there he placeth the hungry, and they build a city to dwell in,

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which bring forth fruitful [s]increase.

38 For he blesseth them, and they multiply exceedingly, and he diminisheth not their cattle.

39 [t]Again men are diminished, and brought low by oppression, evil and sorrow.

40 He poureth [u]contempt upon princes, and causeth them to err in desert places out of the way.

41 Yet he raiseth up the poor out of misery, and maketh him families like a flock of sheep.

42 The [v]righteous shall see it, and rejoice, and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Who is wise that he may observe these things? for they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:1 This notable sentence was in the beginning used as the foot or tenor of the song, which was oftentimes repeated.
  2. Psalm 107:2 As this was true in the Jews, so there is none of God’s elect, that feel not his help in their necessity.
  3. Psalm 107:3 Or, from the sea: meaning the red sea, which is on the South part of the land.
  4. Psalm 107:5 He showeth that there is none affliction so grievous, out of the which God will not deliver his, and also exhorteth them that are delivered to be mindful of so great a benefit.
  5. Psalm 107:11 Then the true way to obey God, is to follow his express commandment: also hereby all are exhorted to descend into themselves, forasmuch as none are punished but for their sins.
  6. Psalm 107:13 He showeth that the cause why God doth punish us extremely, is because we can be brought unto him by none other means.
  7. Psalm 107:16 When there seemeth to man’s judgment no recovery, but all things are brought to despair, then God chiefly showeth his mighty power.
  8. Psalm 107:17 They that have no fear of God, by his sharp rods are brought to call upon him, and so find mercy.
  9. Psalm 107:20 By healing them he declareth his good will toward them.
  10. Psalm 107:20 Meaning, their diseases, which had almost brought them to the grave and corruption.
  11. Psalm 107:22 Praise and confession of God’s benefits are the true sacrifices of the godly.
  12. Psalm 107:23 He showeth by the sea what care God hath over man, for in that that he delivereth them from the great danger of the sea, he delivereth them, as it were from a thousand deaths.
  13. Psalm 107:26 Their fear and danger is so great.
  14. Psalm 107:27 When their art and means fail them, they are compelled to confess that only God’s providence doth preserve them.
  15. Psalm 107:30 Though before every drop seemed to fight one against another, yet at his commandment they are as still, as though they were frozen.
  16. Psalm 107:32 This great benefit ought not only to be considered particularly, but magnified in all places and assemblies.
  17. Psalm 107:34 Or, saltness.
  18. Psalm 107:35 For the love that he beareth to his Church, he changeth the order of nature for their commodity.
  19. Psalm 107:37 Continual increase and yearly.
  20. Psalm 107:39 As God by his providence doth exalt men, so doth he also humble them by afflictions to know themselves.
  21. Psalm 107:40 For their wickedness and tyranny he causeth the people and subjects to contemn them.
  22. Psalm 107:42 They, whose faith is lightened by God’s spirit, shall rejoice to see God’s judgments against the wicked and ungodly.

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