Yahweh Saves in Times of Trouble

1Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good,

For His lovingkindness endures forever.

2Let the redeemed of Yahweh say so,

Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary

3And gathered from the lands,

From the east and from the west,

From the north and from the [†]south.

4They wandered in the wilderness along the way of the wasteland;

They did not find an inhabited city.

5Hungry [†]and thirsty,

Their soul fainted within them.

6Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble;

He delivered them out of their distresses.

7He led them by a [†]straight way,

To go to an inhabited city.

8Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,

And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!

9For He has satisfied the [†]thirsty soul,

And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

10There were those who inhabited darkness and the shadow of death,

Prisoners in affliction and irons,

11Because they had rebelled against the words of God

And spurned the counsel of the Most High.

12So He subdued their heart with labor;

They stumbled and there was none to help.

13Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble;

He saved them out of their distresses.

14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death

And broke their bands apart.

15Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,

And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!

16For He has shattered the doors of bronze

And cut through the bars of iron.

17[†]Ignorant fools, because of their way of transgression,

And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.

18Their soul abhorred all kinds of food,

And they reached the gates of death.

19Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble;

He saved them out of their distresses.

20He sent His word and healed them,

And provided them escape from their [†]destructions.

21Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,

And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!

22Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,

And recount His works with joyful singing.

23Those who go down to the sea in ships,

Who do business on many waters;

24They have seen the works of Yahweh,

And His wondrous deeds in the deep.

25He spoke and set up a stormy wind,

Which raised up the waves [†]of the sea.

26They went up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;

Their soul melted away in the [†]calamity.

27They staggered and swayed like a drunken man,

And all their wisdom was swallowed up.

28Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,

And He brought them out of their distresses.

29He caused the storm to stand still,

So that its waves were hushed.

30Then they were glad because they were quiet,

So He led them to their desired haven.

31Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,

And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!

32Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,

And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

33He [†]makes rivers into a [†]wilderness

And springs of water into a thirsty ground;

34A fruitful land into a salt waste,

Because of the evil of those who inhabited it.

35He makes a wilderness into a pool of water

And a dry land into springs of water;

36And there He causes the hungry to inhabit,

So that they may establish an inhabited city,

37And sow fields and plant vineyards,

And produce a fruitful harvest.

38Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly,

And He does not let their cattle decrease.

39But when they decrease and are bowed down

Through oppression, evil, and sorrow,

40He pours contempt upon nobles

And makes them wander in a pathless void.

41But He sets the needy [†]securely on high away from affliction,

And makes his families like a flock.

42The upright see it and are glad;

But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.

43Who is wise? Let him keep these things,

And carefully consider the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh.