Psalms 107–109

1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

2Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,

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

4They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.

5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7He led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in.

8Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

9For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.

10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron,

11because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High.

12Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help.

13Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.

15Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

16For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron.

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

18Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.

19Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses.

20He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves.

21Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

22Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing.

23Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters,

24these see Yahweh’s deeds, and his wonders in the deep.

25For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves.

26They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.

27They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

28Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.

29He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.

30Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven.

31Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds for the children of men!

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

33He turns rivers into a desert, water springs into a thirsty ground,

34and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

35He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs.

36There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in,

37sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase.

38He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.

39Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

40He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.

41Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock.

42The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.

43Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.

1My heart is steadfast, God. I will sing and I will make music with my soul.

2Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.

3I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. I will sing praises to you among the peoples.

4For your loving kindness is great above the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

5Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth.

6That your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.

7God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.

8Gilead is mine. Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is my helmet. Judah is my scepter.

9Moab is my wash pot. I will toss my sandal on Edom. I will shout over Philistia.”

10Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

11Haven’t you rejected us, God? You don’t go out, God, with our armies.

12Give us help against the enemy, for the help of man is vain.

13Through God, we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our enemies.

1God of my praise, don’t remain silent,

2for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.

3They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

4In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.

5They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.

7When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.

8Let his days be few. Let another take his office.

9Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.

11Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.

12Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.

13Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;

16because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.

17Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

18He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.

19Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.

20This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, of those who speak evil against my soul.

21But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;

22for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.

23I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.

24My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.

25I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.

26Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;

27that they may know that this is your hand; that you, Yahweh, have done it.

28They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.

29Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.

31For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.