Psalm 107
^1Praise God, for he is good: for still
his mercies lasting be.
^2Let God's redeem'd say so, whom he
from th' en'my's hand did free;
^3And gather'd them out of the lands,
from north, south, east, and west.
^4They stray'd in desert's pathless way,
no city found to rest.
^5For thirst and hunger in them faints
^6their soul. When straits them press,
They cry unto the Lord, and he
them frees from their distress.
^7Them also in a way to walk
that right is he did guide,
That they might to a city go,
wherein they might abide.
^8O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
^9For he the soul that longing is
doth fully satisfy;
With goodness he the hungry soul
doth fill abundantly.
^10Such as shut up in darkness deep,
and in death's shade abide,
Whom strongly hath affliction bound,
and irons fast have ty'd:
^11Because against the words of God
they wrought rebelliously,
And they the counsel did contemn
of him that is most High:
^12Their heart he did bring down with grief,
they fell, no help could have.
^13In trouble then they cry'd to God,
he them from straits did save.
^14He out of darkness did them bring,
and from death's shade them take;
These bands, wherewith they had been bound,
asunder quite he brake.
^15O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
^16Because the mighty gates of brass
in pieces he did tear,
By him in sunder also cut
the bars of iron were.
^17Fools, for their sin, and their offence,
do sore affliction bear;
^18All kind of meat their soul abhors;
they to death's gates draw near.
^19In grief they cry to God; he saves
them from their miseries.
^20He sends his word, them heals, and them
from their destructions frees.
^21O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
^22And let them sacrifice to him
off rings of thankfulness;
And let them shew abroad his works
in songs of joyfulness.
^23Who go to sea in ships, and in
great waters trading be,
^24Within the deep these men God's works
and his great wonders see.
^25For he commands, and forth in haste
the stormy tempest flies,
Which makes the sea with rolling waves
aloft to swell and rise.
^26They mount to heav'n, then to the depths
they do go down again;
Their soul doth faint and melt away
with trouble and with pain.
^27They reel and stagger like one drunk,
at their wit's end they be:
^28Then they to God in trouble cry,
who them from straits doth free.
^29The storm is chang'd into a calm
at his command and will;
So that the waves, which rag'd before,
now quiet are and still.
^30Then are they glad, because at rest
and quiet now they be:
So to the haven he them brings,
which they desir'd to see.
^31O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
^32Among the people gathered
let them exalt his name;
Among assembled elders spread
his most renowned fame.
^33He to dry land turns water-springs,
and floods to wilderness;
^34For sins of those that dwell therein,
fat land to barrenness.
^35The burnt and parched wilderness
to water-pools he brings;
The ground that was dry'd up before
he turns to water-springs:
^36And there, for dwelling, he a place
doth to the hungry give,
That they a city may prepare
commodiously to live.
^37There sow they fields, and vineyards plant,
to yield fruits of increase.
^38His blessing makes them multiply,
lets not their beasts decrease.
^39Again they are diminished,
and very low brought down,
Through sorrow and affliction,
and great oppression.
^40He upon princes pours contempt,
and causeth them to stray,
And wander in a wilderness,
wherein there is no way.
^41Yet setteth he the poor on high
from all his miseries,
And he, much like unto a flock,
doth make him families.
^42They that are righteous shall rejoice,
when they the same shall see;
And, as ashamed, stop her mouth
shall all iniquity.
^43Whoso is wise, and will these things
observe, and them record,
Ev'n they shall understand the love
and kindness of the Lord.