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
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 107
Commentary on Psalms 107 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 107
Ps 107:1-43. Although the general theme of this Psalm may have been suggested by God's special favor to the Israelites in their restoration from captivity, it must be regarded as an instructive celebration of God's praise for His merciful providence to all men in their various emergencies. Of these several are given—captivity and bondage, wanderings by land and sea, and famine; some as evidences of God's displeasure, and all the deliverances as evidence of His goodness and mercy to them who humbly seek Him.
1, 2. This call for thankful praise is the burden or chorus (compare Ps 107:8, 15, &c.).
2. redeemed of the Lord—(compare Isa 35:9, 10).
say—that is, that His mercy, &c.
hand of—or, "power of enemy."
3. gathered—alluding to the dispersion of captives throughout the Babylonian empire.
from the south—literally, "the sea," or, Red Sea (Ps 114:3), which was on the south.
4-7. A graphic picture is given of the sufferings of those who from distant lands returned to Jerusalem; or,
city of habitation—may mean the land of Palestine.
5. fainted—was overwhelmed (Ps 61:3; 77:3).
8, 9. To the chorus is added, as a reason for praise, an example of the extreme distress from which they had been delivered—extreme hunger, the severest privation of a journey in the desert.
10-16. Their sufferings were for their rebellion against (Ps 105:28) the words, or purposes, or promises, of God for their benefit. When humbled they cry to God, who delivers them from bondage, described as a dark dungeon with doors and bars of metal, in which they are bound in iron—that is, chains and fetters.
shadow of death—darkness with danger (Ps 23:4).
16. broken—literally, "shivered" (Isa 45:2).
17-22. Whether the same or not, this exigency illustrates that dispensation of God according to which sin brings its own punishment.
are afflicted—literally, "afflict themselves," that is, bring on disease, denoted by loathing of food, and drawing
18. near unto—literally, "even to"
gates—or, "domains" (Ps 9:13).
20. sent his word—that is, put forth His power.
their destructions—that is, that which threatened them. To the chorus is added the mode of giving thanks, by a sacrifice and joyful singing (Ps 50:14).
23-32. Here are set forth the perils of seafaring, futility of man's, and efficiency of God's, help.
go … sea—alluding to the elevation of the land at the coast.
24. These see … deep—illustrated both by the storm He raises and the calm He makes with a word (Ps 33:9).
25. waves thereof—literally, "His waves" (God's, Ps 42:7).
27. are … end—literally, "all their wisdom swallows up itself," destroys itself by vain and contradictory devices, such as despair induces.
29-32. He maketh … calm—or, "to stand to stillness," or "in quiet." Instead of acts of temple-worship, those of the synagogue are here described, where the people with the
assembly—or session of elders, convened for reading, singing, prayer, and teaching.
33-41. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, &c.—God's providence is illustriously displayed in His influence on two great elements of human prosperity, the earth's productiveness and the powers of government. He punishes the wicked by destroying the sources of fertility, or, in mercy, gives fruitfulness to deserts, which become the homes of a busy and successful agricultural population. By a permitted misrule and tyranny, this scene of prosperity is changed to one of adversity. He rules rulers, setting up one and putting down another.
40. wander … wilderness—reduced to misery (Job 12:24).
42, 43. In this providential government, good men will rejoice, and the cavils of the wicked will be stopped (Job 5:16; Isa 52:15), and all who take right views will appreciate God's unfailing mercy and unbounded love.