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BOOK FIVE

(Psalms 107–150)

Psalm 107

Give thanks to Yahweh because he is good,
    because his mercy endures forever.

Let the people Yahweh defended repeat these words.
    They are the people he defended from the power of their enemies
        and gathered from other countries,
            from the east and from the west,
            from the north and from the south.
They wandered around the desert on a deserted road
    without finding an inhabited city.
They were hungry and thirsty.
    They began to lose hope.
In their distress they cried out to Yahweh.
    He rescued them from their troubles.
He led them on a road that went straight to an inhabited city.

Let them give thanks to Yahweh because of his mercy.
    He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.
He gave plenty to drink to those who were thirsty.
    He filled those who were hungry with good food.
10 Those who lived in the dark, in death’s shadow
    were prisoners in misery.
        They were held in iron chains
11 because they had rebelled against El’s words
    and had despised the advice given by Elyon.
12 So he humbled them with hard work.
    They fell down, but no one was there to help them.
13 In their distress they cried out to Yahweh.
    He saved them from their troubles.
14 He brought them out of the dark, out of death’s shadow.
    He broke apart their chains.

15 Let them give thanks to Yahweh because of his mercy.
    He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.
16 He shattered bronze gates
    and cut iron bars in two.
17 Fools suffered because of their disobedience
    and because of their crimes.
18 All food was disgusting to them,
    and they came near death’s gates.
19 In their distress they cried out to Yahweh.
    He saved them from their troubles.
20 He sent his message and healed them.
    He rescued them from the grave.

21 Let them give thanks to Yahweh because of his mercy.
    He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.
22 Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice.
    Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.
23 Those who sail on the sea in ships,
    who do business on the high seas,
24 have seen what Yahweh can do,
    the miracles he performed in the depths of the sea.
25 He spoke, and a storm began to blow,
    and it made the waves rise high.
26 The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky.
    They plunged into the depths.
        Their courage melted in the face of disaster.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunks,
    and all their skills as sailors became useless.
28 In their distress they cried out to Yahweh.
    He led them from their troubles.
29 He made the storm calm down,
    and the waves became still.
30 The sailors were glad that the storm was quiet.
    He guided them to the harbor they had longed for.

31 Let them give thanks to Yahweh because of his mercy.
    He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.
32 Let them glorify him when the people are gathered for worship.
    Let them praise him in the company of respected leaders.
33 He changes rivers into a desert,
    springs into thirsty ground,
34 and fertile ground into a layer of salt
    because of the wickedness of the people living there.
35 He changes deserts into lakes
    and dry ground into springs.
36 There he settles those who are hungry,
    and they build cities to live in.
37 They plant in fields and vineyards
    that produce crops.
38 He blesses them, and their numbers multiply,
    and he does not allow a shortage of cattle.

39 They became few in number and were humiliated
    because of oppression, disaster, and sorrow.
40 He poured contempt on their influential people
    and made them stumble around in a pathless desert.
41 But now he lifts needy people high above suffering
    and makes their families like flocks.
42 Decent people will see this and rejoice,
    but all the wicked people will shut their mouths.

43 Let those who think they are wise
    pay attention to these things
        so that they may understand Yahweh’s blessings.

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