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The Lord Is Good to His People

106 Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. Who can put into words the great works of the Lord? Who can make known all His praise? Happy are those who are faithful in being fair and who always do what is right and good!

O Lord, remember me when You show favor to Your people. Visit me also when You save them. So I may share in the well-being of Your chosen ones. So I may share in the joy of Your nation, and be proud of Your people.

We have sinned like our fathers. We have done wrong. We have been sinful in our actions. Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your powerful works. They did not remember how many times You showed Your loving-kindness. But they turned against You by the sea, the Red Sea. Yet He saved them because of the honor of His name, and to make His great power known. So He spoke sharp words to the Red Sea and it dried up. And He led them through the sea as through a desert. 10 He saved them from the hand of those who hated them. He set them free from the hand of those who went against them. 11 And the waters covered those who hated them. Not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed His promises. They sang His praise.

13 But they soon forgot His works. They did not wait to hear what He wanted them to do. 14 They wanted many things in the desert, and they tempted God there. 15 So He gave them what they wanted, but He allowed their souls to become weak because of it.

16 They were jealous of Moses in the place where they set up their tents. And they were jealous of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord. 17 So the earth opened up and swallowed Dathan. It closed over the group of Abiram. 18 And a fire came among their followers. It burned up the sinful people.

19 They made a calf at Horeb and worshiped a god of gold. 20 They traded their shining-greatness for something that looked like a bull that eats grass. 21 They forgot the God Who saved them, Who had done great things in Egypt, 22 powerful works in the land of Ham, and works that brought fear by the Red Sea. 23 So He said that He would destroy them. But Moses, His chosen one, stood in the way to keep His anger from destroying them. 24 Then they hated the good land. They did not believe in His Word. 25 But they complained in their tents. They did not listen to the voice of the Lord. 26 So He swore to them that He would let them die in the desert. 27 And He would spread out their children among the nations and divide them over all the earth.

28 They joined themselves to Baal of Peor and ate gifts given to the dead. 29 They made the Lord angry by their actions and a sickness broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and came between them, and the sickness was stopped. 31 And this made him right with God to all people forever.

32 They also made the Lord angry at the waters of Meribah. And trouble came to Moses because of them. 33 He spoke from his lips without thinking because they went against the Spirit of God.

34 They did not destroy the people as the Lord told them to do. 35 But they mixed with the nations and learned their ways. 36 They served their gods, which became a trap to them. 37 They even gave their sons and daughters as gifts on an altar to the demons. 38 They poured out the blood of those who were not guilty, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they gave on an altar to the gods of Canaan. And the land was poisoned with blood. 39 They made themselves unclean by what they did. They were not true to God in what they did.

40 So the Lord was angry with His people. He hated His people. 41 So He handed them over to the nations. And those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Those who hated them held a strong power over them. And they were made to obey them. 43 God set them free many times. But they always turned against Him and went deeper into sin.

44 But He looked upon their trouble when He heard their cry. 45 He remembered His agreement because of them, and took pity on them by the greatness of His loving-kindness. 46 Those who held them also saw how God took pity on them.

47 O Lord our God, save us! Gather us from among the nations. And we will give thanks to Your holy name and find honor in Your praise. 48 Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever. Let all the people say, “Let it be so!” Praise the Lord!

God Helps Men in Trouble

107 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His loving-kindness lasts forever! Let the people who have been saved say so. He has bought them and set them free from the hand of those who hated them. He gathered them from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Some traveled through the desert wastes. They did not find a way to a city where they could live. They were hungry and thirsty. Their souls became weak within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. And He took them out of their suffering. He led them by a straight path to a city where they could live. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and His great works to the children of men! For He fills the thirsty soul. And He fills the hungry soul with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. They suffered in prison in iron chains. 11 Because they had turned against the Words of God. They hated what the Most High told them to do. 12 So He loaded them down with hard work. They fell and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. And He saved them from their suffering. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death. And He broke their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and His great works to the children of men! 16 For He has broken gates of brass and cut through walls of iron.

17 Some were fools because of their wrong-doing. They had troubles because of their sins. 18 They hated all kinds of food. And they came near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. And He saved them from their suffering. 20 He sent His Word and healed them. And He saved them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and His great works to the children of men! 22 Let them give Him gifts of thanks and tell of His works with songs of joy.

23 Some went out to sea in ships to buy and sell on the great waters. 24 They have seen what the Lord can do and His great works on the sea. 25 For He spoke and raised up a storm that lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They went up to the heavens and down to the deep. Their strength of heart left them in their danger. 27 They could not walk straight but went from side to side like a drunk man. They did not know what to do. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. And He took them out of all their problems. 29 He stopped the storm, and the waves of the sea became quiet. 30 Then they were glad because the sea became quiet. And He led them to the safe place they wanted. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and His great works to the children of men! 32 Let them honor Him in the meeting of the people and praise Him in the meeting of the leaders.

33 He changes rivers into a desert and wells of water into a thirsty ground. 34 He changes a land of much fruit into a salt waste because of the sin of those who live in it. 35 He changes a desert into a pool of water and makes water flow out of dry ground. 36 And He makes the hungry go there so they may build a city to live in. 37 They plant seeds in the fields and plant grape-vines and gather much fruit. 38 He lets good come to them and they become many in number. And He does not let the number of their cattle become less.

39 When the number of people becomes less and they are put to shame under a bad power and trouble and sorrow, 40 He pours anger on rulers. He makes them walk in the waste places where there is no path. 41 But He lifts those in need out of their troubles. He makes their families grow like flocks. 42 Those who are right see it and are glad. But all the sinful shut their mouths. 43 Let the wise man think about these things. And may he think about the loving-kindness of the Lord.

A Song of Praise

108 My heart will not be moved, O God. I will sing. Yes, I will sing praises with my soul. Wake up, different kinds of harps. I will wake up the new day. I will give thanks to You among the people, O Lord. I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your loving-kindness is great above the heavens. And Your truth can touch the sky. Be lifted up high above the heavens, O God. Let Your shining-greatness be over all the earth. Save us with Your right hand and answer me. Let Your loved ones be set free.

God has said in His holy place: “I will be full of joy. I will divide Shechem and the valley of Succoth. Gilead is Mine. Manasseh is Mine. Ephraim is the covering for My head. Judah is My law giver. Moab is where I wash My hands. I will throw My shoe over Edom. I will call out over Philistia that I have won.”

10 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? 11 Have You not turned away from us, O God? And will You not go out with our armies, O God? 12 O give us help against those who hate us. For the help of man is worth nothing. 13 With God’s help we will do great things. And He will break under His feet those who fight against us.

Psalm 106(A)

Praise the Lord.[a](B)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;(C)
    his love endures forever.(D)

Who can proclaim the mighty acts(E) of the Lord
    or fully declare his praise?
Blessed are those who act justly,(F)
    who always do what is right.(G)

Remember me,(H) Lord, when you show favor(I) to your people,
    come to my aid(J) when you save them,
that I may enjoy the prosperity(K) of your chosen ones,(L)
    that I may share in the joy(M) of your nation
    and join your inheritance(N) in giving praise.

We have sinned,(O) even as our ancestors(P) did;
    we have done wrong and acted wickedly.(Q)
When our ancestors were in Egypt,
    they gave no thought(R) to your miracles;
they did not remember(S) your many kindnesses,
    and they rebelled by the sea,(T) the Red Sea.[b]
Yet he saved them(U) for his name’s sake,(V)
    to make his mighty power(W) known.
He rebuked(X) the Red Sea, and it dried up;(Y)
    he led them through(Z) the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them(AA) from the hand of the foe;(AB)
    from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.(AC)
11 The waters covered(AD) their adversaries;
    not one of them survived.
12 Then they believed his promises
    and sang his praise.(AE)

13 But they soon forgot(AF) what he had done
    and did not wait for his plan to unfold.(AG)
14 In the desert(AH) they gave in to their craving;
    in the wilderness(AI) they put God to the test.(AJ)
15 So he gave them(AK) what they asked for,
    but sent a wasting disease(AL) among them.

16 In the camp they grew envious(AM) of Moses
    and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord.
17 The earth opened(AN) up and swallowed Dathan;(AO)
    it buried the company of Abiram.(AP)
18 Fire blazed(AQ) among their followers;
    a flame consumed the wicked.
19 At Horeb they made a calf(AR)
    and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
20 They exchanged their glorious God(AS)
    for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
21 They forgot the God(AT) who saved them,
    who had done great things(AU) in Egypt,
22 miracles in the land of Ham(AV)
    and awesome deeds(AW) by the Red Sea.
23 So he said he would destroy(AX) them—
    had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach(AY) before him
    to keep his wrath from destroying them.

24 Then they despised(AZ) the pleasant land;(BA)
    they did not believe(BB) his promise.
25 They grumbled(BC) in their tents
    and did not obey the Lord.
26 So he swore(BD) to them with uplifted hand
    that he would make them fall in the wilderness,(BE)
27 make their descendants fall among the nations
    and scatter(BF) them throughout the lands.

28 They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor(BG)
    and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
29 they aroused the Lord’s anger(BH) by their wicked deeds,(BI)
    and a plague(BJ) broke out among them.
30 But Phinehas(BK) stood up and intervened,
    and the plague was checked.(BL)
31 This was credited to him(BM) as righteousness
    for endless generations(BN) to come.
32 By the waters of Meribah(BO) they angered the Lord,
    and trouble came to Moses because of them;
33 for they rebelled(BP) against the Spirit(BQ) of God,
    and rash words came from Moses’ lips.[c](BR)

34 They did not destroy(BS) the peoples
    as the Lord had commanded(BT) them,
35 but they mingled(BU) with the nations
    and adopted their customs.
36 They worshiped their idols,(BV)
    which became a snare(BW) to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons(BX)
    and their daughters to false gods.(BY)
38 They shed innocent blood,
    the blood of their sons(BZ) and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
    and the land was desecrated by their blood.
39 They defiled themselves(CA) by what they did;
    by their deeds they prostituted(CB) themselves.

40 Therefore the Lord was angry(CC) with his people
    and abhorred his inheritance.(CD)
41 He gave them into the hands(CE) of the nations,
    and their foes ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed(CF) them
    and subjected them to their power.
43 Many times he delivered them,(CG)
    but they were bent on rebellion(CH)
    and they wasted away in their sin.
44 Yet he took note of their distress
    when he heard their cry;(CI)
45 for their sake he remembered his covenant(CJ)
    and out of his great love(CK) he relented.(CL)
46 He caused all who held them captive
    to show them mercy.(CM)

47 Save us,(CN) Lord our God,
    and gather us(CO) from the nations,
that we may give thanks(CP) to your holy name(CQ)
    and glory in your praise.

48 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.

Let all the people say, “Amen!”(CR)

Praise the Lord.

BOOK V

Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107

Give thanks to the Lord,(CS) for he is good;(CT)
    his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed(CU) of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered(CV) from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.[d]

Some wandered in desert(CW) wastelands,
    finding no way to a city(CX) where they could settle.
They were hungry(CY) and thirsty,(CZ)
    and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out(DA) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way(DB)
    to a city(DC) where they could settle.
Let them give thanks(DD) to the Lord for his unfailing love(DE)
    and his wonderful deeds(DF) for mankind,
for he satisfies(DG) the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.(DH)

10 Some sat in darkness,(DI) in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering(DJ) in iron chains,(DK)
11 because they rebelled(DL) against God’s commands
    and despised(DM) the plans(DN) of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.(DO)
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them(DP) from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness,(DQ) the utter darkness,(DR)
    and broke away their chains.(DS)
15 Let them give thanks(DT) to the Lord for his unfailing love(DU)
    and his wonderful deeds(DV) for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

17 Some became fools(DW) through their rebellious ways(DX)
    and suffered affliction(DY) because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food(DZ)
    and drew near the gates of death.(EA)
19 Then they cried(EB) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them(EC) from their distress.
20 He sent out his word(ED) and healed them;(EE)
    he rescued(EF) them from the grave.(EG)
21 Let them give thanks(EH) to the Lord for his unfailing love(EI)
    and his wonderful deeds(EJ) for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings(EK)
    and tell of his works(EL) with songs of joy.(EM)

23 Some went out on the sea(EN) in ships;(EO)
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,(EP)
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke(EQ) and stirred up a tempest(ER)
    that lifted high the waves.(ES)
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril(ET) their courage melted(EU) away.
27 They reeled(EV) and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried(EW) out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.(EX)
29 He stilled the storm(EY) to a whisper;
    the waves(EZ) of the sea[e] were hushed.(FA)
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them(FB) to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks(FC) to the Lord for his unfailing love(FD)
    and his wonderful deeds(FE) for mankind.
32 Let them exalt(FF) him in the assembly(FG) of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

33 He turned rivers into a desert,(FH)
    flowing springs(FI) into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,(FJ)
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water(FK)
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;(FL)
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards(FM)
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,(FN)
    and he did not let their herds diminish.(FO)

39 Then their numbers decreased,(FP) and they were humbled(FQ)
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles(FR)
    made them wander in a trackless waste.(FS)
41 But he lifted the needy(FT) out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.(FU)
42 The upright see and rejoice,(FV)
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.(FW)

43 Let the one who is wise(FX) heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds(FY) of the Lord.

Psalm 108[f](FZ)(GA)

A song. A psalm of David.

My heart, O God, is steadfast;(GB)
    I will sing(GC) and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre!(GD)
    I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love,(GE) higher than the heavens;
    your faithfulness(GF) reaches to the skies.(GG)
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(GH)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(GI)

Save us and help us with your right hand,(GJ)
    that those you love may be delivered.
God has spoken(GK) from his sanctuary:(GL)
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(GM)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(GN)
Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah(GO) is my scepter.
Moab(GP) is my washbasin,
    on Edom(GQ) I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia(GR) I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?(GS)
12 Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.(GT)
13 With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down(GU) our enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 106:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 48
  2. Psalm 106:7 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verses 9 and 22
  3. Psalm 106:33 Or against his spirit, / and rash words came from his lips
  4. Psalm 107:3 Hebrew north and the sea
  5. Psalm 107:29 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text / their waves
  6. Psalm 108:1 In Hebrew texts 108:1-13 is numbered 108:2-14.