33 He turned rivers into a desert,u

flowing springsv into thirsty ground,

34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,w

because of the wickedness of those who lived there.

35 He turned the desert into pools of waterx

and the parched ground into flowing springs;y

36 there he brought the hungry to live,

and they founded a city where they could settle.

37 They sowed fields and planted vineyardsz

that yielded a fruitful harvest;

38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,a

and he did not let their herds diminish.b

39 Then their numbers decreased,c and they were humbledd

by oppression, calamity and sorrow;

40 he who pours contempt on noblese

made them wander in a trackless waste.f

41 But he lifted the needyg out of their affliction

and increased their families like flocks.h

42 The upright see and rejoice,i

but all the wicked shut their mouths.j