Psalms
2 Let Jehovah’s rescued men say it,
those whom he has rescued from the hands of a foe
4 Those who were wandering in the wilderness, in desert land, found no road to a city of homes,
5 Hungry, thirsty too,
their souls in them fainting away,
6 But they cried out to Jehovah in their distress
and he delivered them out of their hardships,
7 And set them on a straight course
to go to a city of homes,
8 Let them thank Jehovah for his friendship
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
9 For he gives satisfaction to a hankering soul,
and a hungry soul he fills with good things.
10 Those who were sitting in darkness and gloom,
locked in misery and in irons,
11 Because they had disobeyed Deity’s word
and despised the Most High’s advice
12 And he had humbled their hearts with trouble,
they had stumbled and there was no helper,
13 But they cried out to Jehovah in their distress
and he saves them out of their hardships,
14 Brings them out of darkness and gloom
and breaks their chains,
15 Let them thank Jehovah for his friendship
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
16 For he smashes bronze doors
and chops through iron bars.
17 Those who were sick because of their criminal course
and in misery because of their guilt,
18 Their appetites abhorring any food
and they nearing the gates of death,
19 But they cried to Jehovah in their distress
and he saves them out of their hardships,
20 Sends his word and cures them
and brings them clear of their blights,
21 Let them thank Jehovah for his friendship
and his wonderful deeds for mankind
22 And sacrifice thank-offerings
and shout the story of his deeds.
23 Those who have gone to sea in ships,
done business on a great water,
24 They have seen Jehovah’s work
and his wonders on the deep.
25 He spoke the word and a wind rose,
a tempest that drove its waves high;
26 They go up to the sky, down to the depths,
their souls rocking with disaster,
27 They dance and stagger like a drunken man
and all their skill is at a loss.
28 But they have cried out to Jehovah in their distress
and he brings them out of their hardships,
29 Turns a tempest to a hush;
and the waves of the sea became still,
30 And they were glad that it calmed down;
and he guided them to the port they wanted to reach.
31 Let them thank Jehovah for his friendship
and his wonderful deeds for mankind
32 And exalt him where a people is assembled
and praise him where elders sit.
33 He makes rivers into a wilderness
and fountainheads of water into a thirsty spot,
34 A fruitful country into alkali soil,
for the wickedness of those who live in it.
35 He makes a wilderness into pools of water
and an arid country into fountainheads of water
36 And settles hungry people there,
and they establish a city of homes
37 And sow fields and set out vineyards
and are fruitful in produce,
38 And he blesses them, and they grow very numerous,
and their cattle he does not make few.
39 And if they have become few and low
by pressure of disaster and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on nobles
and sets them wandering in pathless nothingness,
41 But he uplifts a needy man out of misery
and makes him into clans numerous as the sheep.
42 Upright men will see it and be glad,
and all foul play shuts its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, let him watch these things,
and let them discern Jehovah’s deeds of friendliness.