Psalm 107 | New International Version

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.* 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. 10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. 12 So he subjected them to bitter labour; they stumbled, and there was no-one to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. 17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 22 Let them sacrifice thank-offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. 23 Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea* were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. 33 He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, 34 and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. 35 He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; 36 there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. 37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; 38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. 39 Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; 40 he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. 41 But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. 42 The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. 43 Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

New International Reader’s Version

1 Give thanks to the LORD, because he is good. His faithful love continues for ever. 2 Let those who have been set free by the LORD tell their story. He set them free from the power of the enemy. 3 He brought them back from other lands. He brought them back from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some of them wandered in deserts that were dry and empty. They couldn’t find a city where they could make their homes. 5 They were hungry and thirsty. Their lives were slipping away. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he saved them from their troubles. 7 He led them straight to a city where they could make their homes. 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people. 9 He gives those who are thirsty all the water they want. He gives those who are hungry all the good food they can eat. 10 Others lived in the deepest darkness. They suffered as prisoners in iron chains. 11 That’s because they hadn’t obeyed the commands of God. They had refused to follow the plans of the Most High God. 12 So he made them do work that was hard and bitter. They tripped and fell, and there was no one to help them. 13 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he saved them from their troubles. 14 He brought them out of the deepest darkness. He broke their chains off. 15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people. 16 He breaks down gates that are made of bronze. He cuts through bars that are made of iron. 17 Others were foolish. They suffered because of their sins. They suffered because they wouldn’t obey the LORD. 18 They refused to eat anything. They came close to passing through the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he saved them from their troubles. 20 He gave his command and healed them. He saved them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people. 22 Let them sacrifice thank-offerings. Let them talk about what he has done as they sing with joy. 23 Some people sailed out on the ocean in ships. They traded goods on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the LORD. They saw the wonderful deeds he did on the ocean. 25 He spoke and stirred up a storm. It lifted the waves high. 26 They rose up to the heavens. Then they went down deep into the ocean. In that kind of danger the people’s boldness melted away. 27 They were unsteady like people who have become drunk. They didn’t know what to do. 28 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he brought them out of their troubles. 29 He made the storm as quiet as a whisper. The waves of the ocean calmed down. 30 The people were glad when the ocean became calm. Then he guided them to the harbour they were looking for. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people. 32 Let them honour him among his people who gather for worship. Let them praise him in the meeting of the elders. 33 He turned rivers into a desert. He turned flowing springs into thirsty ground. 34 He turned land that produced crops into a salty land where nothing could grow. He did it because the people who lived there were evil. 35 He turned the desert into pools of water. He turned the dry and cracked ground into flowing springs. 36 He brought hungry people there to live. They built a city where they could make their homes. 37 They planted fields and vineyards that produced large crops. 38 He blessed the people, and they greatly increased their numbers. He kept their herds from getting smaller. 39 Then the number of God’s people got smaller. They were made humble by trouble, suffering and sorrow. 40 The God who looks down on proud nobles made them wander in a desert where no one lives. 41 But he lifted needy people out of their suffering. He made their families increase like flocks of sheep. 42 Honest people see it and are filled with joy. But no one who is evil has anything to say. 43 Let those who are wise pay attention to these things. Let them think about the loving deeds of the LORD.

Psalm 107 | New International Version New International Reader’s Version