BOOK 5

1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,

for his loving kindness endures forever.

2Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so,

whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,

3and gathered out of the lands,

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

4They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way.

They found no city to live in.

5Hungry and thirsty,

their soul fainted in them.

6Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7He led them also by a straight way,

that they might go to a city to live in.

8Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,

for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

9For he satisfies the longing soul.

He fills the hungry soul with good.

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

being bound in affliction and iron,

11because they rebelled against the words of God,

and condemned the counsel of the Most High.

12Therefore he brought down their heart with labor.

They fell down, and there was no one to help.

13Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he saved them out of their distresses.

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

and broke away their chains.

15Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,

for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

16For he has broken the gates of bronze,

and cut through bars of iron.

17Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience,

and because of their iniquities.

18Their soul abhors all kinds of food.

They draw near to the gates of death.

19Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he saves them out of their distresses.

20He sends his word, and heals them,

and delivers them from their graves.

21Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,

for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

22Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving,

and declare his deeds with singing.

23Those who go down to the sea in ships,

who do business in great waters,

24these see Yahweh’s deeds,

and his wonders in the deep.

25For he commands, and raises the stormy wind,

which lifts up its waves.

26They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths.

Their soul melts away because of trouble.

27They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man,

and are at their wits’ end.

28Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he brings them out of their distress.

29He makes the storm a calm,

so that its waves are still.

30Then they are glad because it is calm,

so he brings them to their desired haven.

31Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,

for his wonderful deeds for the children of men!

32Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people,

and praise him in the seat of the elders.

33He turns rivers into a desert,

water springs into a thirsty ground,

34and a fruitful land into a salt waste,

for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

35He turns a desert into a pool of water,

and a dry land into water springs.

36There he makes the hungry live,

that they may prepare a city to live in,

37sow fields, plant vineyards,

and reap the fruits of increase.

38He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly.

He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.

39Again, they are diminished and bowed down

through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

40He pours contempt on princes,

and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.

41Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction,

and increases their families like a flock.

42The upright will see it, and be glad.

All the wicked will shut their mouths.

43Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things.

They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.