Read the Bible

¹ Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. ² Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, ³ And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. ⁴ They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. ⁵ Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. ⁶ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. ⁷ And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. ⁸ Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! ⁹ For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

¹⁰ Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons-- ¹¹ Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, ¹² Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. ¹³ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. ¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. ¹⁵ Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! ¹⁶ For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.

¹⁷ Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. ¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. ¹⁹ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. ²⁰ He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. ²¹ Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! ²² Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.

²³ Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, ²⁴ They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. ²⁵ For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. ²⁶ They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. ²⁷ They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end. ²⁸ Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. ²⁹ He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. ³⁰ Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. ³¹ Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! ³² Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders.

³³ He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground; ³⁴ A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it. ³⁵ He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings. ³⁶ There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place, ³⁷ And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest. ³⁸ He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease. ³⁹ When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction and sorrow, ⁴⁰ He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; ⁴¹ Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, And makes their families like a flock. ⁴² The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth. ⁴³ Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.