Psalms 107

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1Say thank you to the LORD, because he is good. His love lasts forever.

2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

2Let the people the LORD set free say so. He saved them from their enemy.

3And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

3He brought them back from faraway lands. They came from east, west, north, and south.

4They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

4Some people wandered in the desert. They could not find a city to live in.

5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

5They were hungry and thirsty. They felt weak and tired inside.

6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

6Then they called to the LORD in their trouble. He rescued them from all of it.

7And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

7He led them down a straight road. It took them to a city where they could live.

8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

8Let them thank the LORD for his love. Let them thank him for the wonderful things he does for people.

9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

9He gives thirsty people enough to drink. He fills hungry people with good food.

10Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

10Some people sat in the dark, close to death. They were locked in chains and were hurting.

11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

11This happened because they said no to God's words. They would not listen to the Most High, a name for God.

12Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

12God made their proud hearts humble with hard work. They fell down, and no one helped them.

13Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

13Then they called to the LORD in their trouble. He saved them from all of it.

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

14He brought them out of the dark place near death. He broke their chains apart.

15Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

15Let them thank the LORD for his love. Let them thank him for the wonderful things he does for people.

16For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

16He has smashed gates made of bronze. He has cut right through iron bars.

17Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

17Some people acted foolishly. They kept doing wrong, and they suffered because of it.

18Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

18They did not want to eat any food at all. They came very close to dying.

NoteThe old wording says "meat." In 1611 that word meant food of any kind, not only meat from animals.

19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

19Then they called to the LORD in their trouble. He saved them from all of it.

20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

20He spoke, and they got well. He saved them from the grave.

21Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

21Let them thank the LORD for his love. Let them thank him for the wonderful things he does for people.

22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

22Let them bring gifts to God to say thank you. Let them sing about what he has done.

NoteIn Bible times, people said thank you to God by bringing him a gift, often an animal or grain, at his altar.

23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

23Other people sailed out on the sea in ships. They carried goods across the deep water.

24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

24They saw the things the LORD did. They saw his wonders far out at sea.

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

25He gave the word, and a strong wind blew. It lifted the waves up high.

26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

26The ships rose toward the sky, then dropped down deep. The sailors lost all their courage.

27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

27They tipped and stumbled and could not stand up straight. They did not know what to do.

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

28Then they called to the LORD in their trouble. He brought them out of it.

29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

29He made the storm grow quiet. The waves stopped moving and were still.

30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

30They were glad it was calm. He guided them to the safe harbor they wanted.

31Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

31Let them thank the LORD for his love. Let them thank him for the wonderful things he does for people.

32Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

32Let them praise him when the people meet together. Let them praise him in front of the leaders.

33He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

33He turns rivers into dry desert. He turns springs of water into hard, dry ground.

34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

34He turns good farmland into salty, empty land. He does this because the people there do evil.

35He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

35He turns the desert into pools of water. He turns dry ground into flowing springs.

36And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

36He lets hungry people settle there. They build a city and make it their home.

37And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

37They plant seeds in the fields and grow grape vines. They gather a big harvest.

38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

38He blesses them, so there are many more of them. He does not let their animals die off.

NoteThe old wording says God "suffereth not" their cattle to decrease. Here "suffer" means "allow," so it means God does not let their herds get smaller.

39Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

39Later their numbers drop. Cruel people, hard times, and sorrow push them down.

40He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

40God shows that he thinks little of rulers. He makes them wander where there is no road.

41Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

41But he lifts poor people up out of their pain. He makes their families grow like flocks of sheep.

42The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

42Good people see this and are glad. People who do evil have nothing left to say.

43Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

43Anyone who is wise should think about these things. Then they will understand how much the LORD loves people.