1 ¶ O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: and his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let those redeemed by the LORD say so, those whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered from other lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 Some wandered in the desolate wilderness; finding no town to stay in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, they felt desperate and fainted.

6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.

7 And he guided them along a straight path, till they reached a city to dwell in.

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for doing wonderful things for the children of men!

9 For he satisfies the thirsty soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 ¶ Others sat in darkness and gloom, being bound in cruel chains;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he humbled their heart with work; and when they fell there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds into pieces.

15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for doing wonderful things for the children of men!

16 For he has smashed the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron into pieces.

17 ¶ Fools suffer because of their rebellious ways, and because of the wrong they do.

18 They loath all kinds of food; and they draw near to the gates of death.

19 Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he saves them from their distress.

20 He sends his word, and heals them, and rescues them from the grave.

21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for doing wonderful things for the children of men!

22 Let them bring sacrifices of thanksgiving, shouting happily as they tell what he did.

23 ¶ Those who go down to sail the sea in ships, who do business on the high seas;

24 They see what the LORD can do, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he spoke, and raised a stormy wind, that lifted up its waves.

26 They rise up to the heavens, and sink down to the depths: their courage melting away in anguish.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.

29 He makes the storm calm down, so that the waves are still.

30 Then are they glad because it is quiet; and he brings them to the haven they seek.

31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for doing wonderful things for the children of men!

32 Let them glorify him in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the council of the elders.

33 ¶ He turned rivers into a desert, and springs of water into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into a barren waste, because of the wickedness of those who live in it.

35 He changed the desert into pools of water, and dry ground into springs of water.

36 He causes the hungry to settle there, and build towns to live in;

37 They sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which yield a fruitful harvest.

38 He blesses them, so that their numbers increase greatly; and does not allow their cattle to decrease.

39 Their numbers had diminished and they sank down under oppression, disaster, and grief.

40 He poured contempt on their princes, and caused them to wander in the wilderness, where there was no path.

41 But now he lifts the poor from misery, and makes their families like a flock.

42 The righteous will see it, and be glad: while all wrongdoing will be silent.

43 Whoever is wise, will notice these things, and they will understand the loving-kindness of the LORD.