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.