Psalm 107

1    O give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious,  

for his steadfast love endures for ever.

2    Let the redeemed of the Lord say this,  

those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

3    And gathered out of the lands

    from the east and from the west,  

from the north and from the south.

4    Some went astray in desert wastes  

and found no path to a city to dwell in.

5    Hungry and thirsty,  

their soul was fainting within them.

6    So they cried to the Lord in their trouble  

and he delivered them from their distress.

7    He set their feet on the right way  

till they came to a city to dwell in.

8    Let them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness  

and the wonders he does for his children.

9    For he satisfies the longing soul  

and fills the hungry soul with good.

10  Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,  

bound fast in misery and iron,

11  For they had rebelled against the words of God  

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12  So he bowed down their heart with heaviness;  

they stumbled and there was none to help them.

13  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,  

and he delivered them from their distress.

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

and broke their bonds asunder.

15  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness  

and the wonders he does for his children.

16  For he has broken the doors of bronze  

and breaks the bars of iron in pieces.

17  Some were foolish and took a rebellious way,  

and were plagued because of their wrongdoing.

18  Their soul abhorred all manner of food  

and drew near to the gates of death.

19  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,  

and he delivered them from their distress.

20  He sent forth his word and healed them,  

and saved them from destruction.

21  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness  

and the wonders he does for his children.

22  Let them offer him sacrifices of thanksgiving  

and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.

23  Those who go down to the sea in ships  

and ply their trade in great waters,

24  These have seen the works of the Lord  

and his wonders in the deep.

25  For at his word the stormy wind arose  

and lifted up the waves of the sea.

26  They were carried up to the heavens

    and down again to the deep;  

their soul melted away in their peril.

27  They reeled and staggered like a drunkard  

and were at their wits’ end.

28  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,  

and he brought them out of their distress.

29  He made the storm be still  

and the waves of the sea were calmed.

30  Then were they glad because they were at rest,  

and he brought them to the haven they desired.

31  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness  

and the wonders he does for his children.

32  Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people  

and praise him in the council of the elders.

33  The Lord turns rivers into wilderness  

and water springs into thirsty ground;

34  A fruitful land he makes a salty waste,  

because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.

35  He makes the wilderness a pool of water  

and water springs out of a thirsty land.

36  There he settles the hungry  

and they build a city to dwell in.

37  They sow fields and plant vineyards  

and bring in a fruitful harvest.

38  He blesses them, so that they multiply greatly;  

he does not let their herds of cattle decrease.

39  He pours contempt on princes  

and makes them wander in trackless wastes.

40  They are diminished and brought low,  

through stress of misfortune and sorrow,

41  But he raises the poor from their misery  

and multiplies their families like flocks of sheep.

42  The upright will see this and rejoice,  

but all wickedness will shut its mouth.

43  Whoever is wise will ponder these things  

and consider the loving-kindness of the Lord.

 

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

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