1 Praise the Lord, because he is good: for his mercie endureth for euer. 2 Let them, which haue bene redeemed of the Lord, shewe how he hath deliuered them from the hand of the oppressour, 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the East and from the West, from the North and from the South. 4 When they wandered in the desert and wildernesse out of the waie, and founde no citie to dwell in, 5 Both hungrie and thirstie, their soule fainted in them. 6 Then they cried vnto the Lord in their trouble, and he deliuered them from their distresse, 7 And led them forth by the right way, that they might goe to a citie of habitation. 8 Let them therefore confesse before ye Lord his louing kindnesse, and his wonderfull woorkes before the sonnes of men. 9 For he satisfied the thirstie soule, and filled the hungrie soule with goodnesse. 10 They that dwell in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death, being bounde in miserie and yron, 11 Because they rebelled against the wordes of the Lord, and despised the counsell of the most High, 12 When he humbled their heart with heauines, then they fell downe and there was no helper. 13 Then they cried vnto the Lord in their trouble, and he deliuered them from their distresse. 14 He brought them out of darkenes, and out of the shadowe of death, and brake their bandes asunder. 15 Let them therefore cofesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse, and his wonderfull woorkes before the sonnes of men. 16 For hee hath broken the gates of brasse, and brast the barres of yron asunder. 17 Fooles by reason of their transgression, and because of their iniquities are afflicted. 18 Their soule abhorreth al meat, and they are brought to deaths doore. 19 Then they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble, and he deliuereth them from their distresse. 20 He sendeth his worde and healeth them, and deliuereth them from their graues. 21 Let them therefore cofesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse, and his wonderful workes before the sonnes of men, 22 And let them offer sacrifices of praise, and declare his workes with reioycing. 23 They that goe downe to the sea in ships, and occupie by the great waters, 24 They see the woorkes of the Lord, and his wonders in the deepe. 25 For he commaundeth and raiseth the stormie winde, and it lifteth vp the waues thereof. 26 They mount vp to the heauen, and descend to ye deepe, so that their soule melteth for trouble. 27 They are tossed to and from, and stagger like a drunken man, and all their cunning is gone. 28 Then they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresse. 29 He turneth the storme to calme, so that the waues thereof are still. 30 When they are quieted, they are glad, and hee bringeth them vnto the hauen, where they would be. 31 Let them therfore confesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse, and his wonderfull woorkes before the sonnes of men. 32 And let them exalt him in the Congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the Elders. 33 He turneth the floodes into a wildernesse, and the springs of waters into drinesse, 34 And a fruitfull land into barrennes for the wickednes of them that dwell therein. 35 Againe hee turneth the wildernesse into pooles of water, and the drie lande into water springs. 36 And there he placeth the hungrie, and they builde a citie to dwell in, 37 And sowe the fieldes, and plant vineyardes, which bring foorth fruitfull increase. 38 For he blesseth them, and they multiplie exceedingly, and he diminisheth not their cattell. 39 Againe men are diminished, and brought lowe by oppression, euill and sorowe. 40 He powreth contempt vpon princes, and causeth them to erre in desert places out of the way. 41 Yet he raiseth vp the poore out of miserie, and maketh him families like a flocke of sheepe. 42 The righteous shall see it, and reioyce, and all iniquitie shall stoppe her mouth. 43 Who is wise that hee may obserue these things? for they shall vnderstand the louing kindnesse of the Lord.
BOOK FIVE
(Psalms 107–150)
In Praise of God's Goodness
1 “Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good;
his love is eternal!”
2 Repeat these words in praise to the Lord,
all you whom he has saved.
He has rescued you from your enemies
3 and has brought you back from foreign countries,
from east and west, from north and south.
4 Some wandered in the trackless desert
and could not find their way to a city to live in.
5 They were hungry and thirsty
and had given up all hope.
6 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight road
to a city where they could live.
8 They must thank the Lord for his constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
9 He satisfies those who are thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
10 Some were living in gloom and darkness,
prisoners suffering in chains,
11 because they had rebelled against the commands of Almighty God
and had rejected his instructions.
12 They were worn out from hard work;
they would fall down, and no one would help.
13 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of their gloom and darkness
and broke their chains in pieces.
15 They must thank the Lord for his constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
16 He breaks down doors of bronze
and smashes iron bars.
17 Some were fools, suffering because of their sins
and because of their evil;
18 they couldn't stand the sight of food
and were close to death.
19 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He healed them with his command
and saved them from the grave.
21 They must thank the Lord for his constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
22 They must thank him with sacrifices,
and with songs of joy must tell all that he has done.
23 Some sailed over the ocean in ships,
earning their living on the seas.
24 They saw what the Lord can do,
his wonderful acts on the seas.
25 He commanded, and a mighty wind began to blow
and stirred up the waves.
26 The ships were lifted high in the air
and plunged down into the depths.
In such danger the sailors lost their courage;
27 they stumbled and staggered like drunks—
all their skill was useless.
28 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
29 He calmed the raging storm,
and the waves became quiet.
30 They were glad because of the calm,
and he brought them safe to the port they wanted.
31 They must thank the Lord for his constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
32 They must proclaim his greatness in the assembly of the people
and praise him before the council of the leaders.
33 The Lord made rivers dry up completely
and stopped springs from flowing.
34 He made rich soil become a salty wasteland
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He changed deserts into pools of water
and dry land into flowing springs.
36 He let hungry people settle there,
and they built a city to live in.
37 They sowed the fields and planted grapevines
and reaped an abundant harvest.
38 He blessed his people, and they had many children;
he kept their herds of cattle from decreasing.
39 When God's people were defeated and humiliated
by cruel oppression and suffering,
40 he showed contempt for their oppressors
and made them wander in trackless deserts.
41 But he rescued the needy from their misery
and made their families increase like flocks.
42 The righteous see this and are glad,
but all the wicked are put to silence.
43 May those who are wise think about these things;
may they consider the Lord's constant love.