[107:1] “Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; his love is eternal!”
[107:2] Repeat these words in praise to the Lord, all you whom he has saved. He has rescued you from your enemies
[107:3] and has brought you back from foreign countries, from east and west, from north and south.
[107:4] Some wandered in the trackless desert and could not find their way to a city to live in.
[107:5] They were hungry and thirsty and had given up all hope.
[107:6] Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.
[107:7] He led them by a straight road to a city where they could live.
[107:8] They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.
[107:9] He satisfies those who are thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
[107:10] Some were living in gloom and darkness, prisoners suffering in chains,
[107:11] because they had rebelled against the commands of Almighty God and had rejected his instructions.
[107:12] They were worn out from hard work; they would fall down, and no one would help.
[107:13] Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.
[107:14] He brought them out of their gloom and darkness and broke their chains in pieces.
[107:15] They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.
[107:16] He breaks down doors of bronze and smashes iron bars.
[107:17] Some were fools, suffering because of their sins and because of their evil;
[107:18] they couldn't stand the sight of food and were close to death.
[107:19] Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.
[107:20] He healed them with his command and saved them from the grave.
[107:21] They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.
[107:22] They must thank him with sacrifices, and with songs of joy must tell all that he has done.
[107:23] Some sailed over the ocean in ships, earning their living on the seas.
[107:24] They saw what the Lord can do, his wonderful acts on the seas.
[107:25] He commanded, and a mighty wind began to blow and stirred up the waves.
[107:26] The ships were lifted high in the air and plunged down into the depths. In such danger the sailors lost their courage;
[107:27] they stumbled and staggered like drunks— all their skill was useless.
[107:28] Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.
[107:29] He calmed the raging storm, and the waves became quiet.
[107:30] They were glad because of the calm, and he brought them safe to the port they wanted.
[107:31] They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.
[107:32] They must proclaim his greatness in the assembly of the people and praise him before the council of the leaders.
[107:33] The Lord made rivers dry up completely and stopped springs from flowing.
[107:34] He made rich soil become a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
[107:35] He changed deserts into pools of water and dry land into flowing springs.
[107:36] He let hungry people settle there, and they built a city to live in.
[107:37] They sowed the fields and planted grapevines and reaped an abundant harvest.
[107:38] He blessed his people, and they had many children; he kept their herds of cattle from decreasing.
[107:39] When God's people were defeated and humiliated by cruel oppression and suffering,
[107:40] he showed contempt for their oppressors and made them wander in trackless deserts.
[107:41] But he rescued the needy from their misery and made their families increase like flocks.
[107:42] The righteous see this and are glad, but all the wicked are put to silence.
[107:43] May those who are wise think about these things; may they consider the Lord's constant love.