1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
1 O give thanks H3034 unto the LORD, H3068 for he is good: H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
2 Let the redeemed H1350 of the LORD H3068 say H559 so, whom he hath redeemed H1350 from the hand H3027 of the enemy; H6862
3 And gathered H6908 them out of the lands, H776 from the east, H4217 and from the west, H4628 from the north, H6828 and from the south. H3220
4 They wandered H8582 in the wilderness H4057 in a solitary H3452 way; H1870 they found H4672 no city H5892 to dwell H4186 in.
5 Hungry H7457 and thirsty, H6771 their soul H5315 fainted H5848 in them.
6 Then they cried H6817 unto the LORD H3068 in their trouble, H6862 and he delivered H5337 them out of their distresses. H4691
7 And he led them forth H1869 by the right H3477 way, H1870 that they might go H3212 to a city H5892 of habitation. H4186
8 Oh that men would praise H3034 the LORD H3068 for his goodness, H2617 and for his wonderful works H6381 to the children H1121 of men! H120
9 For he satisfieth H7646 the longing H8264 soul, H5315 and filleth H4390 the hungry H7457 soul H5315 with goodness. H2896
10 Such as sit H3427 in darkness H2822 and in the shadow of death, H6757 being bound H615 in affliction H6040 and iron; H1270
11 Because they rebelled H4784 against the words H561 of God, H410 and contemned H5006 the counsel H6098 of the most High: H5945
12 Therefore he brought down H3665 their heart H3820 with labour; H5999 they fell down, H3782 and there was none to help. H5826
13 Then they cried H2199 unto the LORD H3068 in their trouble, H6862 and he saved H3467 them out of their distresses. H4691
14 He brought them out H3318 of darkness H2822 and the shadow of death, H6757 and brake H5423 their bands H4147 in sunder. H5423
15 Oh that men would praise H3034 the LORD H3068 for his goodness, H2617 and for his wonderful works H6381 to the children H1121 of men! H120
16 For he hath broken H7665 the gates H1817 of brass, H5178 and cut H1438 the bars H1280 of iron H1270 in sunder. H1438
17 Fools H191 because H1870 of their transgression, H6588 and because of their iniquities, H5771 are afflicted. H6031
18 Their soul H5315 abhorreth H8581 all manner of meat; H400 and they draw near H5060 unto the gates H8179 of death. H4194
19 Then they cry H2199 unto the LORD H3068 in their trouble, H6862 and he saveth H3467 them out of their distresses. H4691
20 He sent H7971 his word, H1697 and healed H7495 them, and delivered H4422 them from their destructions. H7825
21 Oh that men would praise H3034 the LORD H3068 for his goodness, H2617 and for his wonderful works H6381 to the children H1121 of men! H120
22 And let them sacrifice H2076 the sacrifices H2077 of thanksgiving, H8426 and declare H5608 his works H4639 with rejoicing. H7440
23 They that go down H3381 to the sea H3220 in ships, H591 that do H6213 business H4399 in great H7227 waters; H4325
24 These see H7200 the works H4639 of the LORD, H3068 and his wonders H6381 in the deep. H4688
25 For he commandeth, H559 and raiseth H5975 the stormy H5591 wind, H7307 which lifteth up H7311 the waves H1530 thereof.
26 They mount up H5927 to the heaven, H8064 they go down H3381 again to the depths: H8415 their soul H5315 is melted H4127 because of trouble. H7451
27 They reel to and fro, H2287 and stagger H5128 like a drunken man, H7910 and are at their wits' H2451 end. H1104
28 Then they cry H6817 unto the LORD H3068 in their trouble, H6862 and he bringeth them out H3318 of their distresses. H4691
29 He maketh H6965 the storm H5591 a calm, H1827 so that the waves H1530 thereof are still. H2814
30 Then are they glad H8055 because they be quiet; H8367 so he bringeth H5148 them unto their desired H2656 haven. H4231
31 Oh that men would praise H3034 the LORD H3068 for his goodness, H2617 and for his wonderful works H6381 to the children H1121 of men! H120
32 Let them exalt H7311 him also in the congregation H6951 of the people, H5971 and praise H1984 him in the assembly H4186 of the elders. H2205
33 He turneth H7760 rivers H5104 into a wilderness, H4057 and the watersprings H4325 H4161 into dry ground; H6774
34 A fruitful H6529 land H776 into barrenness, H4420 for the wickedness H7451 of them that dwell H3427 therein.
35 He turneth H7760 the wilderness H4057 into a standing H98 water, H4325 and dry H6723 ground H776 into watersprings. H4325 H4161
36 And there he maketh the hungry H7457 to dwell, H3427 that they may prepare H3559 a city H5892 for habitation; H4186
37 And sow H2232 the fields, H7704 and plant H5193 vineyards, H3754 which may yield H6213 fruits H6529 of increase. H8393
38 He blesseth H1288 them also, so that they are multiplied H7235 greatly; H3966 and suffereth H4591 not their cattle H929 to decrease. H4591
39 Again, they are minished H4591 and brought low H7817 through oppression, H6115 affliction, H7451 and sorrow. H3015
40 He poureth H8210 contempt H937 upon princes, H5081 and causeth them to wander H8582 in the wilderness, H8414 where there is no way. H1870
41 Yet setteth he the poor H34 on high H7682 from affliction, H6040 and maketh H7760 him families H4940 like a flock. H6629
42 The righteous H3477 shall see H7200 it, and rejoice: H8055 and all iniquity H5766 shall stop H7092 her mouth. H6310
43 Whoso is wise, H2450 and will observe H8104 these things, even they shall understand H995 the lovingkindness H2617 of the LORD. H3068
1 O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness `endureth' for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of Jehovah say `so', Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation.
5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,
7 He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.
10 Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of food; And they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses.
20 He sendeth his word, and healeth them, And delivereth `them' from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of Jehovah, And his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths: Their soul melteth away because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end.
28 Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they are quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;
34 A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, That they may prepare a city of habitation,
37 And sow fields, and plant vineyards, And get them fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the waste, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, And maketh `him' families like a flock.
42 The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah. Psalm 108 A Song, A Psalm of David.
1 `Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age `is' His kindness:'
2 Let the redeemed of Jehovah say, Whom He redeemed from the hand of an adversary.
3 And from the lands hath gathered them, From east and from west, From north, and from the sea.
4 They wandered in a wilderness, in a desert by the way, A city of habitation they have not found.
5 Hungry -- yea -- thirsty, Their soul in them becometh feeble,
6 And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distress He delivereth them,
7 And causeth them to tread in a right way, To go unto a city of habitation.
8 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.
9 For He hath satisfied a longing soul, And a hungry soul hath filled `with' goodness.
10 Inhabitants of dark places and death-shade, Prisoners of affliction and of iron,
11 Because they changed the saying of God, And the counsel of the Most High despised.
12 And He humbleth with labour their heart, They have been feeble, and there is no helper.
13 And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them.
14 He bringeth them out from the dark place, And death-shade, And their bands He draweth away.
15 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men.
16 For He hath broken doors of brass, And bars of iron He hath cut.
17 Fools, by means of their transgression, And by their iniquities, afflict themselves.
18 All food doth their soul abominate, And they come nigh unto the gates of death,
19 And cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them,
20 He sendeth His word and healeth them, And delivereth from their destructions.
21 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,
22 And they sacrifice sacrifices of thanksgiving, And recount His works with singing.
23 Those going down `to' the sea in ships, Doing business in many waters,
24 They have seen the works of Jehovah, And His wonders in the deep.
25 And He saith, and appointeth a tempest, And it lifteth up its billows,
26 They go up `to' the heavens, they go down `to' the depths, Their soul in evil is melted.
27 They reel to and fro, and move as a drunkard, And all their wisdom is swallowed up.
28 And they cry to Jehovah in their adversity, And from their distresses He bringeth them out.
29 He establisheth a whirlwind to a calm, And hushed are their billows.
30 And they rejoice because they are quiet, And He leadeth them to the haven of their desire.
31 They confess to Jehovah His kindness, And His wonders to the sons of men,
32 And they exalt Him in the assembly of the people, And in the seat of the elders praise Him.
33 He maketh rivers become a wilderness, And fountains of waters become dry land.
34 A fruitful land becometh a barren place, For the wickedness of its inhabitants.
35 He maketh a wilderness become a pool of water, And a dry land become fountains of waters.
36 And He causeth the hungry to dwell there, And they prepare a city of habitation.
37 And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, And they make fruits of increase.
38 And He blesseth them, and they multiply exceedingly, And their cattle He doth not diminish.
39 And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and sorrow.
40 He is pouring contempt upon nobles, And causeth them to wander in vacancy -- no way.
41 And setteth on high the needy from affliction, And placeth families as a flock.
42 The upright do see and rejoice, And all perversity hath shut her mouth.
43 Who `is' wise, and observeth these? They understand the kind acts of Jehovah!
1 Give ye thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of Jehovah say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the oppressor,
3 And gathered out of the countries, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the sea.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way, they found no city of habitation;
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them:
6 Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, [and] he delivered them out of their distresses,
7 And he led them forth by a right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Let them give thanks unto Jehovah for his loving-kindness, and for his wondrous works to the children of men;
9 For he hath satisfied the longing soul and filled the hungry soul with good.
10 Such as inhabit darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of ùGod, and had despised the counsel of the Most High; ...
12 And he bowed down their heart with labour; they stumbled, and there was none to help:
13 Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses;
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bands in sunder.
15 Let them give thanks unto Jehovah for his loving-kindness, and for his wondrous works to the children of men;
16 For he hath broken the gates of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron.
17 Fools, because of their way of transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted;
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of food, and they draw near unto the gates of death:
19 Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, [and] he saveth them out of their distresses;
20 He sendeth his word, and healeth them, and delivereth them from their destructions.
21 Let them give thanks unto Jehovah for his loving-kindness, and for his wondrous works to the children of men,
22 And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works in joyful song.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters,
24 These see the works of Jehovah, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he speaketh, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof:
26 They mount up to the heavens, they go down to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble;
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and they are at their wits' end:
28 Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses;
29 He maketh the storm a calm, and the waves thereof are still:
30 And they rejoice because they are quiet; and he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks unto Jehovah for his loving-kindness, and for his wondrous works to the children of men;
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the session of the elders.
33 He maketh rivers into a wilderness, and water-springs into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into a plain of salt, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He maketh the wilderness into a pool of water, and the dry land into water-springs;
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, and they establish a city of habitation;
37 And sow fields, and plant vineyards, which yield fruits of increase;
38 And he blesseth them, so that they are multiplied greatly; and he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 And they are diminished and brought low, through oppression, adversity, and sorrow:
40 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste;
41 But he secureth the needy one on high from affliction, and maketh [him] families like flocks.
42 The upright shall see it, and rejoice; and all unrighteousness shall stop its mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, let him observe these things, and let them understand the loving-kindnesses of Jehovah.
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, For he is good, For his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, Whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,
7 He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city to live in.
8 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, And condemned the counsel of the Most High.
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their bonds in sunder.
15 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he has broken the gates of brass, And cut through bars of iron.
17 Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, And because of their iniquities.
18 Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, He saves them out of their distresses.
20 He sends his word, and heals them, And delivers them from their graves.
21 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business in great waters;
24 These see Yahweh's works, And his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up its waves.
26 They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
27 They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end.
28 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, And he brings them out of their distress.
29 He makes the storm a calm, So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because it is calm, So he brings them to their desired haven.
31 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, For his wonderful works for the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a desert, Water springs into a thirsty ground,
34 And a fruitful land into a salt waste, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a desert into a pool of water, And a dry land into water springs.
36 There he makes the hungry live, That they may prepare a city to live in,
37 Sow fields, plant vineyards, And reap the fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn't allow their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
41 Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, And increases their families like a flock.
42 The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
43 Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.
1 O give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.
2 Let those whose cause the Lord has taken up say so, his people whom he has taken out of the hands of their haters;
3 Making them come together out of all the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 They were wandering in the waste places; they saw no way to a resting-place.
5 Their souls became feeble for need of food and drink.
6 Then they sent up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gave them salvation out of all their troubles;
7 Guiding them in the right way, so that they might come into the town of their resting-place.
8 Let men give praise to the Lord for his mercy, and for the wonders which he does for the children of men!
9 He gives its desire to the unresting soul, so that it is full of good things.
10 Those who were in the dark, in the black night, in chains of sorrow and iron;
11 Because they went against the words of God, and gave no thought to the laws of the Most High:
12 So that he made their hearts weighted down with grief; they were falling, and had no helper.
13 Then they sent up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gave them salvation out of all their troubles.
14 He took them out of the dark and the black night, and all their chains were broken.
15 Let men give praise to the Lord for his mercy, and for the wonders which he does for the children of men!
16 The doors of brass are broken by his arm, and the bands of iron are cut in two.
17 Foolish men, because of their sins, and because of their wrongdoing, are troubled;
18 They are disgusted by all food, and they come near to the doors of death.
19 Then they send up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gives them salvation out of all their troubles.
20 He sent his word and made them well, and kept them safe from the underworld.
21 Let men give praise to the Lord for his mercy, and for the wonders which he does for the children of men!
22 Let them make offerings of praise, giving news of his works with cries of joy.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in the great waters;
24 They see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For at his word comes up the storm-wind, lifting high the waves.
26 The sailors go up to heaven, and down into the deep; their souls are wasted because of their trouble.
27 They are turned here and there, rolling like a man who is full of wine; and all their wisdom comes to nothing.
28 Then they send up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gives them salvation out of all their troubles.
29 He makes the storm into a calm, so that the waves are at peace.
30 Then they are glad, because the sea is quiet, and he takes them to the harbour of their desire.
31 Let men give praise to the Lord for his mercy, and for the wonders which he does for the children of men!
32 Let them give glory to him in the meeting of the people, and praise among the chiefs.
33 He makes rivers into waste places, and springs of water into a dry land;
34 He makes a fertile country into a salt waste, because of the sins of those who are living there.
35 He makes a waste land into a place of water, and a dry land into water-springs.
36 And there he gives the poor a resting-place, so that they may make themselves a town;
37 And put seed in the fields and make vine-gardens, to give them fruit.
38 He gives them his blessing so that they are increased greatly, and their cattle do not become less.
39 And when they are made low, and crushed by trouble and sorrow,
40 He puts an end to the pride of kings, and sends them wandering in the waste lands where there is no way.
41 But he puts the poor man on high from his troubles, and gives him families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad: the mouth of the sinner is stopped.
43 Let the wise give thought to these things, and see the mercies of the Lord.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 107
Commentary on Psalms 107 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
An Admonition to Fellow-Countrymen to Render Thanks on account of Having Got the Better of Calamities
With this Psalm begins the Fifth Book, the Book אלה הדברים of the Psalter. With Ps 106 closed the Fourth Book, or the Book במדבר , the first Psalm of which, Ps 90, bewailed the manifestation of God's wrath in the case of the generation of the desert, and in the presence of the prevailing death took refuge in God the eternal and unchangeable One. Ps 106, which closes the book has בּמּדבּר (Psalms 106:14, Psalms 107:26) as its favourite word, and makes confession of the sins of Israel on the way to Canaan. Now, just as at the beginning of the Book of Deuteronomy Israel stands on the threshold of the Land of Promise, after the two tribes and a half have already established themselves on the other side of the Jordan, so at the beginning of this Fifth Book of the Psalter we see Israel restored to the soil of its fatherland. There it is the Israel redeemed out of Egypt, here it is the Israel redeemed out of the lands of the Exile. There the lawgiver once more admonishes Israel to yield the obedience of love to the Law of Jahve, here the psalmist calls upon Israel to show gratitude towards Him, who has redeemed it from exile and distress and death.
We must not therefore be surprised if Ps 106 and Ps 107 are closely connected, in spite of the fact that the boundary of the two Books lies between them. “Ps. 107 stands in close relationship to Ps 106. The similarity of the beginning at once points back to this Psalm. Thanks are here given in Psalms 107:3 for what was there desired in v. 47. The praise of the Lord which was promised in Psalms 106:47 in the case of redemption being vouchsafed, is here presented to Him after redemption vouchsafed.” This observation of Hengstenberg is fully confirmed. The Psalms 104:1 really to a certain extent from a tetralogy. Ps 104 derives its material from the history of the creation, Ps 105 from the history of Israel in Egypt, in the desert, and in the Land of Promise down to the Exile, and Psalms 107 from the time of the restoration. Nevertheless the connection of Ps 104 with Psalms 105:1 is by far not so close as that of these three Psalms among themselves. These three anonymous Psalms form a trilogy in the strictest sense; they are a tripartite whole from the hand of one author. The observation is an old one . The Harpffe Davids mit Teutschen Saiten bespannet (Harp of David strung with German Strings), a translation of the Psalms which appeared in Augsburg in the year 1659, begins Ps 106 with the words: “For the third time already am I now come, and I make bold to spread abroad, with grateful acknowledgment, Thy great kindnesses.” God's wondrous deeds of loving-kindness and compassion towards Israel from the time of their forefathers down to the redemption out of Egypt according to the promise, and giving them possession of Canaan, are the theme of Ps 105. The theme of Ps 106 is the sinful conduct of Israel from Egypt onwards during the journey through the desert, and then in the Land of Promise, by which they brought about the fulfilment of the threat of exile (Psalms 106:27); but even there God's mercy was not suffered to go unattested (Psalms 106:46). The theme of Psalms 107, finally, is the sacrifice of praise that is due to Him who redeemed them out of exile and all kinds of destruction. We may compare Psalms 105:44, He gave them the lands ( ארצות ) of the heathen ; Psalms 106:27, ( He threatened ) to cast forth their seed among the heathen and to scatter them in the lands ( בּארצות ); and Psalms 107:3, out of the lands ( מארצות ) hath He brought them together, out of east and west, out of north and south . The designed similarity of the expression, the internal connection, and the progression in accordance with a definite plan, are not to be mistaken here. In other respects, too, these three Psalms are intimately interwoven. In them Egypt is called “the land of Ham” (Psalms 105:23, Psalms 105:27; Psalms 106:22), and Israel “the chosen ones of Jahve” (Psalms 105:6, Psalms 105:43; Psalms 106:5, cf. Psalms 23:1-6). They are fond of the interrogative form of exclamation (Psalms 106:2; Psalms 107:43). There is an approach in them to the hypostatic conception of the Word ( דּבר , Psalms 105:19; Psalms 106:20). Compare also ישׁימון Psalms 106:14; Psalms 107:4; and the Hithpa . התהלּל Psalms 105:3; Psalms 106:5, השׁתּבּח , Psalms 106:47, התבּלּע Psalms 107:27. In all three the poet shows himself to be especially familiar with Isaiah 40:1, and also with the Book of Job. Psalms 107 is the fullest in reminiscences taken from both these Books, and in this Psalm the movement of the poet is more free without recapitulating history that has been committed to writing. Everything therefore favours the assertion that Ps 105, Ps 106, and Ps 107 are a “trefoil” ( trifolium ) - two Hodu-Psalms, and a Hallalujah-Psalm in the middle.
Ps. 107 consists of six groups with an introit, Psalms 107:1-3, and an epiphonem, Psalms 107:43. The poet unrolls before the dispersion of Israel that has again attained to the possession of its native land the pictures of divine deliverances in which human history, and more especially the history of the exiles, is so rich. The epiphonem at the same time stamps the hymn as a consolatory Psalm; for those who were gathered again out of the lands of the heathen nevertheless still looked for the final redemption under the now milder, now more despotic sceptre of the secular power.
The introit, with the call upon them to grateful praise, is addressed to the returned exiles. The Psalm carries the marks of its deutero-Isaianic character on the very front of it, viz.: “the redeemed of Jahve,” taken from Isaiah 62:12, cf. Psalms 63:4; Psalms 35:9.; קבּץ as in Isaiah 56:8, and frequently; “from the north and from the sea,” as in Isaiah 49:12 : “the sea” ( ים ) here (as perhaps there also), side by side with east, west, and north, is the south, or rather (since ים is an established usus loquendi for the west) the south-west, viz., the southern portion of the Mediterranean washing the shores of Egypt. With this the poet associates the thought of the exiles of Egypt, as with וּממּערב the exiles of the islands, i.e., of Asia Minor and Europe; he is therefore writing at a period in which the Jewish state newly founded by the release of the Babylonian exiles had induced the scattered fellow-countrymen in all countries to return home. Calling upon the redeemed ones to give thanks to God the Redeemer in order that the work of the restoration of Israel may be gloriously perfected amidst the thanksgiving of the redeemed ones, he forthwith formulates the thanksgiving by putting the language of thanksgiving of the ancient liturgy (Jeremiah 33:11) into their mouth. The nation, now again established upon the soil of the fatherland, has, until it had acquired this again, seen destruction in every form in a strange land, and can tell of the most manifold divine deliverances. The call to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving is expanded accordingly into several pictures portraying the dangers of the strange land, which are not so much allegorical, personifying the Exile, as rather exemplificative.
It has actually come to pass, the first strophe tells us, that they wandered in a strange land through deserts and wastes, and seemed likely to have to succumb to death from hunger. According to Psalms 107:40 and Isaiah 43:19, it appears that Psalms 107:4 ought to be read לא־דרך (Olshausen, Baur, and Thenius); but the line is thereby lengthened inelegantly. The two words, joined by Munach , stand in the construct state, like פּרא אדם , Genesis 16:12 : a waste of a way = ἔρημος ὁδός , Acts 8:26 (Ewald, Hitzig), which is better suited to the poetical style than that דּרך , as in משׁנה־כּסף p, and the like, should be an accusative of nearer definition (Hengstenberg). In connection with עיר מושׁב the poet, who is fond of this combination (Psalms 107:7, Psalms 107:36, cf. בּית־מושׁב , Leviticus 25:29), means any city whatever which might afford the homeless ones a habitable, hospitable reception. With the perfects, which describe what has been experienced, alternates in Psalms 107:5 the imperfect, which shifts to the way in which anything comes about: their soul in them enveloped itself (vid., Psalms 61:3), i.e., was nigh upon extinction. With the fut. consec . then follows in Psalms 107:6 the fact which gave the turn to the change in their misfortune. Their cry for help, as the imperfect יצּילם implies, was accompanied by their deliverance, the fact of which is expressed by the following fut. consec. ויּדריכם . Those who have experienced such things are to confess to the Lord, with thanksgiving, His loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men. It is not to be rendered: His wonders (supply אשׁר עשׂה ) towards the children of men (Luther, Olshausen, and others). The two ל coincide: their thankful confession of the divine loving-kindness and wondrous acts is not to be addressed alone to Jahve Himself, but also to men, in order that out of what they have experienced a wholesome fruit may spring forth for the multitude. נפשׁ שׁוקקה ( part. Polel , the ē of which is retained as a pre-tonic vowel in pause, cf. Psalms 68:26 and on Job 20:27, Ew. §188, b ) is, as in Isaiah 29:9, the thirsting soul (from שׁוּק , Arab. sâq , to urge forward, of the impulse and drawing of the emotions, in Hebrew to desire ardently). The preterites are here an expression of that which has been experienced, and therefore of that which has become a fact of experience. In superabundant measure does God uphold the languishing soul that is in imminent danger of languishing away.
Others suffered imprisonment and bonds; but through Him who had decreed this as punishment for them, they also again reached the light of freedom. Just as in the first strophe, here, too, as far as יודוּ in Psalms 107:15, is all a compound subject; and in view of this the poet begins with participles. “Darkness and the shadow of death” (vid., Psalms 23:4) is an Isaianic expression, Isaiah 9:1 (where ישׁבי is construed with ב ), Psalms 42:7 (where ישׁבי is construed as here, cf. Genesis 4:20; Zechariah 2:11), just as “bound in torture and iron” takes its rise from Job 36:8. The old expositors call it a hendiadys for “torturing iron” (after Psalms 105:18); but it is more correct to take the one as the general term and the other as the particular: bound in all sorts of affliction from which they could not break away, and more particularly in iron bonds ( בּרזל , like the Arabic firzil , an iron fetter, vid., on Psalms 105:18). In Psalms 107:11, which calls to mind Isaiah 5:19, and with respect to Psalms 107:12, Isaiah 3:8, the double play upon the sound of the words is unmistakeable. By עצה is meant the plan in accordance with which God governs, more particularly His final purpose, which lies at the basis of His leadings of Israel. Not only had they nullified this purpose of mercy by defiant resistance ( המרה ) against God's commandments ( אמרי , Arabic awâmir , âmireh ) on their part, but they had even blasphemed it; נאץ , Deuteronomy 32:19, and frequently, or נאץ (prop. to pierce, then to treat roughly), is an old Mosaic designation of blasphemy, Deuteronomy 31:20; Numbers 14:11, Numbers 14:23; Numbers 16:30. Therefore God thoroughly humbled them by afflictive labour, and caused them to stumble ( כּשׁל ). But when they were driven to it, and prayed importunately to Him, He helped them out of their straits. The refrain varies according to recognised custom. Twice the expression is ויצעקו , twice ויזעקו ; once יצילם , then twice יושׁיעם , and last of all יוציאם , which follows here in Psalms 107:14 as an alliteration. The summary condensation of the deliverance experienced (Psalms 107:16) is moulded after Isaiah 45:2. The Exile, too, may be regarded as such like a large jail (vid., e.g., Isaiah 42:7, Isaiah 42:22); but the descriptions of the poet are not pictures, but examples.
Others were brought to the brink of the grave by severe sickness; but when they draw nigh in earnest prayer to Him who appointed that they should suffer thus on account of their sins, He became their Saviour. אויל (cf. e.g., Job 5:3), like נבל (vid., Psalms 14:1), is also an ethical notion, and not confined to the idea of defective intellect merely. It is one who insanely lives only for the passing hour, and ruins health, calling, family, and in short himself and everything belonging to him. Those who were thus minded, the poet begins by saying, were obliged to suffer by reason of (in consequence of) their wicked course of life. The cause of their days of pain and sorrow is placed first by way of emphasis; and because it has a meaning that is related to the past יתענּוּ thereby comes all the more easily to express that which took place simultaneously in the past. The Hithpa . in 1 Kings 2:26 signifies to suffer willingly or intentionally; here: to be obliged to submit to suffering against one's will. Hengstenberg, for example, construes it differently: “Fools because of their walk in transgression (more than 'because of their transgression'), and those who because of their iniquities were afflicted - all food,” etc. But מן beside יתענּוּ has the assumption in its favour of being an affirmation of the cause of the affliction. In Psalms 107:18 the poet has the Book of Job (Job 33:20, Job 33:22) before his eye. And in connection with Psalms 107:20, ἀπέστειλεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἰάσατο αὐτοὺς (lxx), no passage of the Old Testament is more vividly recalled to one's mind than Psalms 105:19, even more than Psalms 147:18; because here, as in Psalms 105:19, it treats of the intervention of divine acts within the sphere of human history, and not of the intervention of divine operations within the sphere of the natural world. In the natural world and in history the word ( דּבר ) is God's messenger (Psalms 105:19, cf. Isaiah 55:10.), and appears here as a mediator of the divine healing. Here, as in Job 33:23., the fundamental fact of the New Testament is announced, which Theodoret on this passage expresses in words: Ὁ Θεὸς Λόγος ἐνανθρωπήσας καὶ ἀποσταλεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παντοδαπὰ τῶν ψυχῶν ἰάσατο τραύματα καὶ τοὺς διαφθαρέντας ἀνέῤῥωσε λογισμούς . The lxx goes on to render it: καὶ ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν διαφθορῶν αὐτῶν , inasmuch as the translators derive שׁחיתותם from שׁחיתה (Daniel 6:5), and this, as שׁחת elsewhere (vid., Psalms 16:10), from שׁחת , διαφθείρειν , which is approved by Hitzig. But Lamentations 4:20 is against this. From שׁחה is formed a noun שׁחוּת ( שׁחוּת ) in the signification a hollow place (Proverbs 28:10), the collateral form of which, שׁחית ( שׁחית ), is inflected like חנית , plur . חניתות with a retention of the substantival termination. The “pits” are the deep afflictions into which they were plunged, and out of which God caused them to escape. The suffix of וירפאם avails also for ימלּט , as in Genesis 27:5; Genesis 30:31; Psalms 139:1; Isaiah 46:5.
Others have returned to tell of the perils of the sea. Without any allegory (Hengstenberg) it speaks of those who by reason of their calling traverse (which is expressed by ירד because the surface of the sea lies below the dry land which slopes off towards the coast) the sea in ships (read boŏnijoth without the article), and that not as fishermen, but (as Luther has correctly understood the choice of the word) in commercial enterprises. These have seen the works and wonders of God in the eddying deep, i.e., they have seen with their own eyes what God can do when in His anger He calls up the powers of nature, and on the other hand when He compassionately orders them back into their bounds. God's mandate ( ויּאמר as in Psalms 105:31, Psalms 105:34) brought it to pass that a stormy wind arose (cf. עמד , Psalms 33:9), and it drove its (the sea's) waves on high, so that the seafarers at one time were tossed up to the sky and then hurled down again into deep abysses, and their soul melted בּרעה , in an evil, anxious mood, i.e., lost all its firmness. They turned about in a circle ( יחוגּוּ( elc from חגג = חוּג ) and reeled after the manner of a drunken man; all their wisdom swallowed itself up, i.e., consumed itself within itself, came of itself to nought, just as Ovid, Trist . i. 1, says in connection with a similar description of a storm at sea: ambiguis ars stupet ipsa malis . The poet here writes under the influence of Isaiah 19:3, Isaiah 19:14. But at their importunate supplication God led them forth out of their distresses (Psalms 25:17). He turned the raging storm into a gentle blowing (= דּממה דּקּה , 1 Kings 19:12). הקים construed with ל here has the sense of transporting (carrying over) into another condition or state, as Apollinaris renders: αὐτίκα δ ̓ εἰς αὔρην προτέρην μετέθηκε θύελλαν . The suffix of גּלּיהם cannot refer to the מים רבּים in Psalms 107:23, which is so far removed; “their waves” are those with which they had to battle. These to their joy became calm ( חשׁה ) and were still ( שׁתק as in Jonah 1:11), and God guided them ἐπὶ λιμένα θελήματος αὐτῶν (lxx). מחוז , a hapax-legomenon, from Arab. ḥâz ( ḥwz ), to shut in on all sides and to draw to one's self (root Arab. ḥw , gyravit , in gyrum egit ), signifies a place enclosed round, therefore a haven, and first of all perhaps a creek, to use a northern word, a fiord. The verb שׁתק in relation to חשׁה is the stronger word, like יבשׁ in relation to חרם in the history of the Flood. Those who have been thus marvellously rescued are then called upon thankfully to praise God their Deliverer in the place where the national church assembles, and where the chiefs of the nation sit in council; therefore, as it seems, in the Temple and in the Forum.
(Note: In exact editions like Norzi, Heidenheim, and Baer's, before Psalms 107:23, Psalms 107:24, Psalms 107:25, Psalms 107:26, Psalms 107:27, Psalms 107:28, and Psalms 107:40 there stand reversed Nuns ( נונין הפוכין , in the language of the Masora נונין מנזרות ), as before Numbers 10:35 and between Numbers 10:36 and Numbers 11:1 (nine in all). Their signification is unknown.)
Now follow two more groups without the two beautiful and impressive refrains with which the four preceding groups are interspersed. The structure is less artistic, and the transitions here and there abrupt and awkward. One might say that these two groups are inferior to the rest, much as the speeches of Elihu are inferior to the rest of the Book of Job. That they are, however, nevertheless from the hand of the very same poet is at once seen from the continued dependence upon the Book of Job and Isaiah. Hengstenberg sees in Psalms 107:33-42 “the song with which they exalt the Lord in the assembly of the people and upon the seat of the elders.” but the materia laudis is altogether different from that which is to be expected according to the preceding calls to praise. Nor is it any the more clear to us that Psalms 107:33. refer to the overthrow of Babylon, and Psalms 107:35. to the happy turn of affairs that took place simultaneously for Israel; Psalms 107:35 does not suit Canaan, and the expressions in Psalms 107:36. would be understood in too low a sense. No, the poet goes on further to illustrate the helpful government of God the just and gracious One, inasmuch as he has experiences in his mind in connection therewith, of which the dispersion of Israel in all places can sing and speak.
Since in Psalms 107:36 the historical narration is still continued, a meaning relating to the contemporaneous past is also retrospectively given to the two correlative ישׂם . It now goes on to tell what those who have now returned have observed and experienced in their own case. Psalms 107:33 sounds like Isaiah 50:2 ; Psalms 107:33 like Isaiah 35:7 ; and Psalms 107:35 takes its rise from Isaiah 41:18 . The juxtaposition of מוצאי and צמּאון , since Deuteronomy 8:15, belongs to the favourite antithetical alliterations, e.g., Isaiah 61:3. מלחה , that which is salty (lxx cf. Sir. 39:23: ἅλμη ), is, as in Job 39:6, the name for the uncultivated, barren steppe. A land that has been laid waste for the punishment of its inhabitants has very often been changed into flourishing fruitful fields under the hands of a poor and grateful generation; and very often a land that has hitherto lain uncultivated and to all appearance absolutely unprofitable has developed an unexpected fertility. The exiles to whom Jeremiah writes, Psalms 29:5 : Build ye houses and settle down, and plant gardens and eat their fruit , may frequently have experienced this divine blessing. Their industry and their knowledge also did their part, but looked at in a right light, it was not their own work but God's work that their settlement prospered, and that they continually spread themselves wider and possessed a not small, i.e., (cf. 2 Kings 4:3) a very large, stock of cattle.
But is also came to pass that it went ill with them, inasmuch as their flourishing prosperous condition drew down upon them the envy of the powerful and tyrannical; nevertheless God put an end to tyranny, and always brought His people again to honour and strength. Hitzig is of opinion that Psalms 107:39 goes back into the time when things were different with those who, according to Psalms 107:36-38, had thriven. The modus consecutivus is sometimes used thus retrospectively (vid., Isaiah 37:5); here, however, the symmetry of the continuation from Psalms 107:36-38, and the change which is expressed in Psalms 107:39 in comparison with Psalms 107:38 , require an actual consecution in that which is narrated. They became few and came down, were reduced ( שׁחח , cf. Proverbs 14:19 : to come to ruin, or to be overthrown), a coarctatione malitiae et maeroris . עצר is the restraint of despotic rule, רעה the evil they had to suffer under such restraint, and רגון sorrow, which consumed their life. מעצר has Tarcha and רעה Munach (instead of Mercha and Mugrash , vid., Accentuationssystem , xviii. 2). There is no reason for departing from this interpunction and rendering: “through tyranny, evil, and sorrow.” What is stiff and awkward in the progress of the description arises from the fact that Psalms 107:40 is borrowed from Job 12:21, Job 12:24, and that the poet is not willing to make any change in these sublime words. The version shows how we think the relation of the clauses is to be apprehended. Whilst He pours out His wrath upon tyrants in the contempt of men that comes upon them, and makes them fugitives who lose themselves in the terrible waste, He raises the needy and those hitherto despised and ill-treated on high out of the depth of their affliction, and makes families like a flock, i.e., makes their families so increase, that they come to have the appearance of a merrily gamboling and numerous flock. Just as this figure points back to Job 21:11, so Psalms 107:42 is made up out of Job 22:19; Job 5:16. The sight of this act of recognition on the part of God of those who have been wrongfully oppressed gives joy to the upright, and all roguery ( עולה , vid., Ps 92:16) has its mouth closed, i.e., its boastful insolence is once for all put to silence. In Psalms 107:43 the poet makes the strains of his Psalm die away after the example of Hosea, Hosea 14:10 [9], in the nota bene expressed after the manner of a question: Who is wise - he will or let him keep this, i.e., bear it well in mind. The transition to the justice together with a change of number is rendered natural by the fact that מי חכם , as in Hos. loc. cit . (cf. Jeremiah 9:11; Esther 5:6, and without Waw apod . Judges 7:3; Proverbs 9:4, Proverbs 9:16), is equivalent to quisquis sapeins est. חסדי ה ( חסדי ) are the manifestations of mercy or loving-kindness in which God's ever-enduring mercy unfolds itself in history. He who is wise has a good memory for and a clear understanding of this.