Psalm 107

⁴ 
They wandered in the wilderness in a [solitary] desert region;
And did not find a way to an inhabited city.
⁵ 
Hungry and thirsty,
They fainted.
⁶ 
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He rescued them from their distresses.
⁷ 
He led them by the straight way,
To an inhabited city [where they could establish their homes].
⁸ 
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!
⁹ 
For He satisfies the parched throat,
And fills the hungry appetite with what is good.

¹⁰ 
Some dwelt in darkness and in the deep (deathly) darkness,
Prisoners [bound] in misery and chains,
¹¹ 
Because they had rebelled against the precepts of God
And spurned the counsel of the Most High.
¹² 
Therefore He humbled their heart with hard labor;
They stumbled and there was no one to help.
¹³ 
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them from their distresses.
¹⁴ 
He brought them out of darkness and the deep (deathly) darkness
And broke their bonds apart.
¹⁵ 
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!
¹⁶ 
For He has shattered the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron apart.

¹⁷ 
Fools, because of their rebellious way,
And because of their sins, were afflicted.
¹⁸ 
They detested all kinds of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
¹⁹ 
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them from their distresses.
²⁰ 
He sent His word and healed them,
And rescued them from their destruction.
²¹ 
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!
²² 
And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And speak of His deeds with shouts of joy!

²³ 
Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
²⁴ 
They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
²⁵ 
For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
²⁶ 
They went up toward the heavens [on the crest of the wave], they went down again to the depths [of the watery trough];
Their courage melted away in their misery.
²⁷ 
They staggered and trembled like a drunken man,
And were at their wits’ end [all their wisdom was useless].
²⁸ 
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
²⁹ 
He hushed the storm to a gentle whisper,
So that the waves of the sea were still.
³⁰ 
Then they were glad because of the calm,
And He guided them to their desired haven (harbor).
³¹ 
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!
³² 
Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

³³ 
He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
³⁴ 
A productive land into a [barren] salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
³⁵ 
He turns a wilderness into a pool of water
And a dry land into springs of water;
³⁶ 
And there He has the hungry dwell,
So that they may establish an inhabited city,
³⁷ 
And sow fields and plant vineyards,
And produce an abundant harvest.
³⁸ 
Also He blesses them so that they multiply greatly,
And He does not let [the number of] their cattle decrease.

³⁹ 
When they are diminished and bowed down (humbled)
Through oppression, misery, and sorrow,
⁴⁰ 
He pours contempt on princes
And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
⁴¹ 
Yet He sets the needy securely on high, away from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
⁴² 
The upright see it and rejoice;
But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.
⁴³ 
Who is wise? Let him observe and heed these things;
And [thoughtfully] consider the lovingkindness of the Lord.