Psalm 107:39
New International Version
Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow;

New Living Translation
When they decrease in number and become impoverished through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,

English Standard Version
When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,

Berean Standard Bible
When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow,

King James Bible
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

New King James Version
When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,

New American Standard Bible
When they become few and lowly Because of oppression, misery, and sorrow,

NASB 1995
When they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, misery and sorrow,

NASB 1977
When they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, misery, and sorrow,

Legacy Standard Bible
But when they decrease and are bowed down Through oppression, evil, and sorrow,

Amplified Bible
When they are diminished and bowed down (humbled) Through oppression, misery, and sorrow,

Christian Standard Bible
When they are diminished and are humbled by cruel oppression and sorrow,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When they are diminished and are humbled by cruel oppression and sorrow,

American Standard Version
Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

Contemporary English Version
Sometimes you may be crushed by troubles and sorrows, until only a few of you are left to survive.

English Revised Version
Again, they are minished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They became few in number and were humiliated because of oppression, disaster, and sorrow.

Good News Translation
When God's people were defeated and humiliated by cruel oppression and suffering,

International Standard Version
But they became few in number, and humiliated by continued oppression, agony, and sorrow.

Majority Standard Bible
When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow,

NET Bible
As for their enemies, they decreased in number and were beaten down, because of painful distress and suffering.

New Heart English Bible
Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

Webster's Bible Translation
Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

World English Bible
Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they are diminished, and bow down, "" By restraint, evil, and sorrow.

Young's Literal Translation
And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and sorrow.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will be diminished and brought low from oppression, evil and grief.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then they were brought to be few: and they were afflicted through the trouble of evils and sorrow.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they became few, and they were afflicted by the tribulation of evils and of sorrow.

New American Bible
But he poured out contempt on princes, made them wander trackless wastes,

New Revised Standard Version
When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Again, they are diminished and humbled through oppression, affliction, and misery.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they decreased and they were humbled in the abundance of evil and of misery.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Again, they are minished and dwindle away Through oppression of evil and sorrow.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Again they become few, and are brought low, by the pressure of evils and pain.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Give Thanks to the LORD, for He is Good
38He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish. 39When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.…

Cross References
Job 5:11-16
He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety. / He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success. / He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning. ...

Job 12:23
He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.

Job 30:25-31
Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has my soul not grieved for the needy? / But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell. / I am churning within and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me. ...

Isaiah 40:23-24
He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless. / No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.

Isaiah 41:17
The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Isaiah 49:19-21
For your ruined and desolate places and your ravaged land will now indeed be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away. / Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’ / Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

Jeremiah 44:11-14
Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will set My face to bring disaster and to cut off all Judah. / And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have resolved to go to the land of Egypt to reside there; they will meet their end. They will all fall by the sword or be consumed by famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine; and they will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and reproach. / I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, just as I punished Jerusalem, by sword and famine and plague, ...

Ezekiel 7:11-13
Their violence has grown into a rod to punish their wickedness. None of them will remain: none of their multitude, none of their wealth, and nothing of value. / The time has come; the day has arrived. Let the buyer not rejoice and the seller not mourn, for wrath is upon the whole multitude. / The seller will surely not recover what he sold while both remain alive. For the vision concerning the whole multitude will not be revoked, and because of their iniquity, not one of them will preserve his life.

Ezekiel 21:25-27
And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, the day has come for your final punishment.’ / This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted. / A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! And it will not be restored until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs, to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.’

Hosea 4:3
Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

Matthew 5:3-12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. / Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ...

Luke 1:52-53
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. / He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

Luke 6:20-21
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. / Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

John 15:2
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.


Treasury of Scripture

Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

again.

they are

Psalm 30:6,7
And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved…

Genesis 45:11
And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

Ruth 1:20,21
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me…

oppression

Exodus 1:13,14
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: …

Exodus 2:23,24
And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage…

Judges 6:3-6
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; …

Jump to Previous
Adversity Affliction Bow Bowed Calamity Crushed Decreased Diminished Dwindle Evil Humbled Low Minished Misery Numbers Oppression Restraint Sorrow Trouble
Jump to Next
Adversity Affliction Bow Bowed Calamity Crushed Decreased Diminished Dwindle Evil Humbled Low Minished Misery Numbers Oppression Restraint Sorrow Trouble
Psalm 107
1. The psalmist exhorts the redeemed in praising God to observe his manifold providence
4. Over travelers
10. Over captives
17. Over sick men
23. Over sailors
33. And in diverse varieties of life.














When they are decreased
The phrase "when they are decreased" speaks to a reduction in number or strength. In the Hebrew text, the word used here is "מִתְמַעֲטִים" (mitma'atim), which conveys the idea of becoming few or diminished. This decrease can be seen as a divine response to the people's actions or circumstances, often reflecting a period of trial or judgment. Historically, the Israelites experienced such decreases during times of disobedience or exile, as seen in the Babylonian captivity. This serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the importance of remaining faithful to His covenant.

and humbled
The term "humbled" comes from the Hebrew "וַיִּשָּׁפְלוּ" (vayyishaflu), which means to be brought low or subdued. This humbling is not merely a physical or numerical reduction but also a spiritual and emotional state. It reflects a condition where pride is stripped away, and reliance on God becomes paramount. Throughout scripture, God often uses humbling experiences to draw His people back to Him, teaching them dependence and trust in His provision and sovereignty. This humbling process is a crucial step in spiritual growth and renewal.

by oppression
"Oppression" in this context is translated from the Hebrew "עֹצֶר" (otzer), indicating a state of being pressed or constrained. Historically, the Israelites faced oppression from various enemies, such as the Egyptians, Philistines, and Babylonians. This oppression often served as a catalyst for the Israelites to cry out to God for deliverance. In a broader spiritual sense, oppression can represent the struggles and burdens that believers face in a fallen world, reminding them of the need for God's intervention and justice.

evil
The word "evil" is derived from the Hebrew "רָעָה" (ra'ah), which encompasses wickedness, harm, or adversity. This term can refer to moral evil, such as sin and rebellion against God, or to calamities and misfortunes that befall individuals or nations. In the biblical narrative, evil often results from turning away from God's laws and principles. The presence of evil serves as a call to repentance and a return to righteousness, highlighting the contrast between the ways of the world and the ways of God.

and sorrow
"Sorrow" is translated from the Hebrew "יָגוֹן" (yagon), indicating grief, anguish, or distress. This word captures the emotional and spiritual pain that accompanies trials and tribulations. In the biblical context, sorrow is often a consequence of sin or the result of living in a broken world. However, it also serves as a means of drawing individuals closer to God, as they seek comfort and healing in His presence. The psalmist's acknowledgment of sorrow underscores the reality of human suffering but also points to the hope and restoration found in God's redemptive plan.

Verse 39. - Again. There is no "again" in the original, but merely the usual yaw conjunctive. Still, in the thought, there is no doubt an abrupt transition. The writer turns to the darker side of the picture. They are minished and brought low. God shows his providence, not merely in blessing, but also in chastising. Even the very nation which has been the most highly favored may, by misconduct, fall under his displeasure and suffer at his hands. Their population is diminished; they arc "bowed down" (Revised Version), or "brought low." Calamities of various kinds befall them. Sometimes their decline is brought about through oppression, which may be either the cruel rule of a native monarch, such as Saul, or the still heavier yoke of a foreign power, like Egypt or Babylon. Sometimes it comes from such an affliction as bad harvests, plagues of locusts, or pestilence. Sometimes it is brought about by sorrow - the death of a good ruler in the flower of his age, the extinction of a royal stock, the destruction of a nation's best and bravest on battle-fields, and the like. But in all calamities alike it is God's hand that deals the blow.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When they are decreased
וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ (way·yim·‘ă·ṭū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4591: To pare off, lessen, in, to be, small, few

and humbled
וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ (way·yā·šō·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7817: To bow, be bowed down, crouch

by oppression,
מֵעֹ֖צֶר (mê·‘ō·ṣer)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6115: Closure, constraint

evil,
רָעָ֣ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

and sorrow,
וְיָגֽוֹן׃ (wə·yā·ḡō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3015: Grief, sorrow


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OT Poetry: Psalm 107:39 Again they are diminished and bowed down (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 107:38
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