Psalms 107

¹ "Give thanks to the LORD who is good, whose love endures forever!"

² Let that be the prayer of the LORD'S redeemed, those redeemed from the hand of the foe,

³ Those gathered from foreign lands, from east and west, from north and south.

⁴ Some had lost their way in a barren desert; found no path toward a city to live in.

⁵ They were hungry and thirsty; their life was ebbing away.

⁶ In their distress they cried to the LORD, who rescued them in their peril,

⁷ Guided them by a direct path so they reached a city to live in.

⁸ Let them thank the LORD for such kindness, such wondrous deeds for mere mortals.

⁹ For he satisfied the thirsty, filled the hungry with good things.

¹⁰ Some lived in darkness and gloom, in prison, bound with chains,

¹¹ Because they rebelled against God's word, scorned the counsel of the Most High,

¹² Who humbled their hearts through hardship; they stumbled with no one to help.

¹³ In their distress they cried to the LORD, who saved them in their peril,

¹⁴ Led them forth from darkness and gloom and broke their chains asunder.

¹⁵ Let them thank the LORD for such kindness, such wondrous deeds for mere mortals.

¹⁶ For he broke down the gates of bronze and snapped the bars of iron.

¹⁷ Some fell sick from their wicked ways, afflicted because of their sins.

¹⁸ They loathed all manner of food; they were at the gates of death.

¹⁹ In their distress they cried to the LORD, who saved them in their peril,

²⁰ Sent forth the word to heal them, snatched them from the grave.

²¹ Let them thank the LORD for such kindness, such wondrous deeds for mere mortals.

²² Let them offer a sacrifice in thanks, declare his works with shouts of joy.

²³ Some went off to sea in ships, plied their trade on the deep waters.

²⁴ They saw the works of the LORD, the wonders of God in the deep.

²⁵ He spoke and roused a storm wind; it tossed the waves on high.

²⁶ They rose up to the heavens, sank to the depths; their hearts trembled at the danger.

²⁷ They reeled, staggered like drunkards; their skill was of no avail.

²⁸ In their distress they cried to the LORD, who brought them out of their peril,

²⁹ Hushed the storm to a murmur; the waves of the sea were stilled.

³⁰ They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor they longed for.

³¹ Let them thank the LORD for such kindness, such wondrous deeds for mere mortals.

³² Let them praise him in the assembly of the people, give thanks in the council of the elders.

³³ God changed rivers into desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,

³⁴ Fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its people.

³⁵ He changed the desert into pools of water, arid land into springs of water,

³⁶ And settled the hungry there; they built a city to live in.

³⁷ They sowed fields and planted vineyards, brought in an abundant harvest.

³⁸ God blessed them, they became very many, and their livestock did not decrease.

³⁹ Where they were diminished and brought low through misery and cruel oppression,

⁴⁰ But he poured out contempt on princes, made them wander the trackless wastes,

⁴¹ While the poor were released from their affliction; their families increased like their flocks.

⁴² The upright saw this and rejoiced; all wickedness shut its mouth.

⁴³ Whoever is wise will take note of these things, will ponder the merciful deeds of the LORD.