Book V

1O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures for ever!

2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,

whom he has redeemed from trouble

3and gathered in from the lands,

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

4Some wandered in desert wastes,

finding no way to a city to dwell in;

5hungry and thirsty,

their soul fainted within them.

6Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress;

7he led them by a straight way,

till they reached a city to dwell in.

8Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

for his wonderful works to the sons of men!

9For he satisfies him who is thirsty,

and the hungry he fills with good things.

10Some sat in darkness and in gloom,

prisoners in affliction and in irons,

11for they had rebelled against the words of God,

and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

12Their hearts were bowed down with hard labour;

they fell down, with none to help.

13Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress;

14he brought them out of darkness and gloom,

and broke their bonds asunder.

15Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

for his wonderful works to the sons of men!

16For he shatters the doors of bronze,

and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17Some were sick107.17 Cn: Heb fools through their sinful ways,

and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;

18they loathed any kind of food,

and they drew near to the gates of death.

19Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress;

20he sent forth his word, and healed them,

and delivered them from destruction.

21Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

for his wonderful works to the sons of men!

22And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,

and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23Some went down to the sea in ships,

doing business on the great waters;

24they saw the deeds of the LORD,

his wondrous works in the deep.

25For he commanded, and raised the stormy wind,

which lifted up the waves of the sea.

26They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths;

their courage melted away in their evil plight;

27they reeled and staggered like drunken men,

and were at their wits' end.

28Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress;

29he made the storm be still,

and the waves of the sea were hushed.

30Then they were glad because they had quiet,

and he brought them to their desired haven.

31Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

for his wonderful works to the sons of men!

32Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,

and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33He turns rivers into a desert,

springs of water into thirsty ground,

34a fruitful land into a salty waste,

because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.

35He turns a desert into pools of water,

a parched land into springs of water.

36And there he lets the hungry dwell,

and they establish a city to live in;

37they sow fields, and plant vineyards,

and get a fruitful yield.

38By his blessing they multiply greatly;

and he does not let their cattle decrease.

39When they are diminished and brought low

through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,

40he pours contempt upon princes

and makes them wander in trackless wastes;

41but he raises up the needy out of affliction,

and makes their families like flocks.

42The upright see it and are glad;

and all wickedness stops its mouth.

43Whoever is wise, let him give heed to these things;

let men consider the steadfast love of the LORD.