1 Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good. His loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed by Jehovah say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
3 And gathered out of the lands, from the east (sunrise) and from the west (sunset), from the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way. They found no city to live in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, they fainted within.
6 Then they cried to Jehovah in their trouble. He delivered them out of their distress.
7 He led them also by a straight way that they might go to a city to live in.
8 Let them praise Jehovah for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the thirsty and the hungry person.
10 Those who lived in the dark, in death's shadow were prisoners in misery. They were held in iron chains
11 They had rebelled against God's words and had despised the advice given by the Most High.
12 He humbled them with hard work. They fell down, but no one was there to help them.
13 In their distress they cried out to Jehovah. He saved them from their troubles.
14 He brought them out of the dark, out of death's shadow. He broke apart their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to Jehovah because of his goodness. He performed his miracles for the sons of men.
16 He shattered bronze gates and cut iron bars in two.
17 Fools suffered because of their disobedience and because of their crimes.
18 All food was disgusting to them, and they came near death's gates.
19 In their distress they cried out to Jehovah. He saved them from their troubles.
20 He sent his message and healed them. He rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to Jehovah because of his goodness. He performed his miracles for the sons of men.
22 Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice. Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.
23 Those who sail on the sea in ships, who do business on the high seas,
24 have seen what Jehovah can do, the miracles he performed in the depths of the sea.
25 He spoke, and a storm began to blow, and it made the waves rise high.
26 The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky. They plunged into the depths. Their courage failed in the face of disaster.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunks, and all their skills as sailors became useless.
28 In their distress they cried out to Jehovah. He led them from their troubles.
29 He made the storm calm down, and the waves became still.
30 The sailors were glad that the storm was quiet. He guided them to the harbor they had longed for.
31 Let them give thanks to Jehovah because of his goodness. He performed his miracles for the sons of men.
32 Let them glorify him when the people are gathered for worship. Let them praise him in the company of respected leaders.
33 He changes rivers into a desert, springs into thirsty ground,
34 and fertile ground into a layer of salt because of the wickedness of the people living there.
35 He changes deserts into lakes (marshland) and dry ground into springs.
36 There he settles those who are hungry, and they build cities to live in.
37 They plant in fields and vineyards that produce crops.
38 He blesses them, and their numbers multiply, and he does not allow a shortage of cattle.
39 They became few in number and were humiliated because of oppression, disaster, and sorrow.
40 He poured contempt on their influential people and made them stumble around in a pathless desert.
41 He lifts needy people high above suffering and makes their families like flocks.
42 The righteous will see this and rejoice, but all the wicked will shut their mouths.