Psalms 107–150

Thanksgiving for Deliverance

(Matthew 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25)

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

² Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy

³ and gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.¹

1. Hebrew north and the sea

⁴ Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell.

⁵ They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them.

⁶ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.

⁷ He led them on a straight path to reach a city where they could live.

⁸ Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

⁹ For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains,

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

¹² He humbled their hearts 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 distress.

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

¹⁵ Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

¹⁶ For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

¹⁷ Fools, in their rebellious ways, and through their iniquities, suffered affliction.

¹⁸ They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.

¹⁹ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.

²⁰ He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit.

²¹ Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

²² Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.

²³ Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.

²⁴ They saw the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.

²⁵ For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea.

²⁶ They mounted up to the heavens, then sunk to the depths; their courage melted in their anguish.

²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and all their skill was useless.¹

1. Or and all their wisdom was swallowed up or and 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 calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea¹ were hushed.

1. DSS; MT their waves

³⁰ They rejoiced in the silence, and He guided them to the harbor they desired.

³¹ Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

³² Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.

³³ He turns rivers into deserts, springs of water into thirsty ground,

³⁴ and fruitful land into fields of salt, because of the wickedness of its dwellers.

³⁵ He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs.

³⁶ He causes the hungry to settle there, that they may establish a city in which to dwell.

³⁷ They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest.

³⁸ He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish.

³⁹ When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow,

⁴⁰ He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

⁴¹ But He lifts the needy from affliction and increases their families like flocks.

⁴² The upright see and rejoice, and all iniquity shuts its mouth.

⁴³ Let him who is wise pay heed to these things and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.