Psalm 107

Book V

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.

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 outⁱ 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 deedsⁿ for humankind,

for he satisfies^o the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.^p

Some sat in darkness,^q in utter darkness,

prisoners suffering^r in iron chains,^s

because they rebelled^t against God’s commands

and despised^u the plans^v of the Most High.

So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help.^w

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them^x from their distress.

He brought them out of darkness,^y the utter darkness,^z

and broke away their chains.^a

Let them give thanks^b to the Lord for his unfailing love^c

and his wonderful deeds^d for humankind,

for he breaks down gates of bronze

and cuts through bars of iron.

Some became fools^e through their rebellious ways^f

and suffered affliction^g because of their iniquities.

They loathed all food^h

and drew near the gates of death.ⁱ

Then they cried^j to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them^k from their distress.

He sent out his word^l and healed them;^m

he rescuedⁿ them from the grave.^o

Let them give thanks^p to the Lord for his unfailing love^q

and his wonderful deeds^r for humankind.

Let them sacrifice thank offerings^s

and tell of his works^t with songs of joy.^u

Some went out on the sea^v in ships;^w

they were merchants on the mighty waters.

They saw the works of the Lord,^x

his wonderful deeds in the deep.

For he spoke^y and stirred up a tempest^z

that lifted high the waves.^a

They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;

in their peril^b their courage melted^c away.

They reeled^d and staggered like drunkards;

they were at their wits’ end.

Then they cried^e out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.^f

He stilled the storm^g to a whisper;

the waves^h of the sea were hushed.ⁱ

They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them^j to their desired haven.

Let them give thanks^k to the Lord for his unfailing love^l

and his wonderful deeds^m for humankind.

Let them exaltⁿ him in the assembly^o of the people

and praise him in the council of the elders.

He turned rivers into a desert,^p

flowing springs^q into thirsty ground,

and fruitful land into a salt waste,^r

because of the wickedness of those who lived there.

He turned the desert into pools of water^s

and the parched ground into flowing springs;^t

there he brought the hungry to live,

and they founded a city where they could settle.

They sowed fields and planted vineyards^u

that yielded a fruitful harvest;

he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,^v

and he did not let their herds diminish.^w

Then their numbers decreased,^x and they were humbled^y

by oppression, calamity and sorrow;

he who pours contempt on nobles^z

made them wander in a trackless waste.^a

But he lifted the needy^b out of their affliction

and increased their families like flocks.^c

The upright see and rejoice,^d

but all the wicked shut their mouths.^e

Let all who are wise^f heed these things

and ponder the loving deeds^g of the Lord.