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The LORD Rescues People from Many Troubles.

¹ O ^(C1)give thanks to the LORD, for ^(C2)He is good;
For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever!

² Let ^(C1)the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has ^(C2)redeemed from the hand of the adversary,

³ And ^(C1)gathered them from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the ^(F1)south.

⁴ They ^(C1)wandered in the wilderness in a solitary desert region;
And did not find a way to an ^(C2)inhabited city.

⁵ Hungry and thirsty,
They ^(C1)fainted.

⁶ Then they ^(C1)cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He rescued them from their distresses.

⁷ He led them by the ^(C1)straight way,
To ^(C2)an inhabited city where they could establish their homes.

^8 (C1)Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!

⁹ For He ^(C1)satisfies the parched throat,
And fills the ^(C2)hungry appetite with what is good.

¹⁰ Some ^(C1)dwelt in darkness and in the deep (deathly) darkness,
^(C2)Prisoners bound in misery and chains, ^(VR1)

¹¹ Because they had ^(C1)rebelled against the precepts of God
And ^(C2)spurned the ^(C3)counsel of the Most High.

¹² Therefore He humbled their heart with hard labor;
They stumbled and there was ^(C1)no one to help.

¹³ Then they ^(C1)cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them from their distresses.

¹⁴ He ^(C1)brought them out of darkness and the deep (deathly) darkness
And ^(C2)broke their bonds apart. ^(VR1)

¹⁵ Let them give ^(C1)thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!

¹⁶ For He has ^(C1)shattered the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron apart.

¹⁷ Fools, because of their rebellious way,
And ^(C1)because of their sins, were afflicted.

¹⁸ They ^(C1)detested all kinds of food,
And they ^(C2)drew near to the ^(C3)gates of death.

¹⁹ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them from their distresses.

²⁰ He ^(C1)sent His word and ^(C2)healed them,
And ^(C3)rescued them from their destruction. ^(VR1)

²¹ Let them ^(C1)give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonderful acts to the children of men! ^(VR1)

²² And let them offer the ^(C1)sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And ^(C2)speak of His deeds with shouts of joy!

²³ Those who ^(C1)go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;

²⁴ They have seen the works of the LORD,
And His wonders in the deep.

²⁵ For He ^(C1)spoke and raised up a ^(C2)stormy wind,
Which ^(C3)lifted up the waves of the sea.

²⁶ They went up toward the heavens on the crest of the wave, they went down again to the depths of the watery trough;
Their courage ^(C1)melted away in their misery.

²⁷ They staggered and ^(C1)trembled like a drunken man,
And were at their wits' end all their wisdom was useless.

²⁸ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.

²⁹ He ^(C1)hushed the storm to a gentle whisper,
So that the waves of the sea were still. ^(VR1)

³⁰ Then they were glad because of the calm,
And He guided them to their desired haven (harbor).

³¹ Let them ^(C1)give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His ^(C2)wonderful acts to the children of men!

³² Let them ^(C1)exalt Him also ^(C2)in the congregation of the people,
And ^(C3)praise Him at the seat of the elders.

³³ He ^(C1)turns rivers into a wilderness,
And springs of water into a thirsty ground; ^(VR1)

³⁴ A ^(C1)productive land into a barren ^(C2)salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it. ^(VR1)

³⁵ He ^(C1)turns a wilderness into a pool of water
And a dry land into springs of water; ^(VR1)

³⁶ And there He has the hungry dwell,
So that they may establish ^(C1)an inhabited city,

³⁷ And sow fields and ^(C1)plant vineyards,
And produce an abundant harvest.

³⁸ Also He blesses them so that they ^(C1)multiply greatly,
And He ^(C2)does not let the number of their cattle decrease.

³⁹ When they are ^(C1)diminished and ^(C2)bowed down (humbled)
Through oppression, misery, and sorrow,

⁴⁰ He ^(C1)pours contempt on princes
And ^(C2)makes them wander ^(C3)in a pathless wasteland.

⁴¹ Yet He ^(C1)sets the needy securely on high, away from affliction,
And ^(C2)makes their families like a flock.

⁴² The ^(C1)upright see it and rejoice;
But all ^(C2)unrighteousness shuts its mouth.

⁴³ Who is ^(C1)wise? Let him observe and heed these things;
And thoughtfully consider the ^(C2)lovingkindness of the LORD.