Study Desk

Give thanks to the Lord , for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.^(a)

Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe^(b)

and has gathered them from the lands— from the east and the west, from the north and the south.^(c)

Some^[a] wandered in the desolate wilderness, finding no way to a city where they could live.^(d)

They were hungry and thirsty; their spirits failed^[b] within them.^(e)

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He rescued them from their distress.^(f)

He led them by the right path to go to a city where they could live.^(g)

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity.^(h)

For He has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.⁽ⁱ⁾

Others^[c] sat in darkness and gloom^[d]— prisoners in cruel chains^(j)—

because they rebelled against God's commands and despised the counsel of the Most High.^(k)

He broke their spirits^[e] with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.^(l)

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them from their distress.^(m)

He brought them out of darkness and gloom^[f] and broke their chains apart.⁽ⁿ⁾

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity.^(o)

For He has broken down the bronze gates and cut through the iron bars.^(p)

Fools suffered affliction because of their rebellious ways and their sins.^(q)

They loathed all food and came near the gates of death.^(r)

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them from their distress.^(s)

He sent His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit.^(t)

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity.^(u)

Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and announce His works with shouts of joy.^(v)

Others^[g] went to sea in ships, conducting trade on the vast waters.^(w)

They saw the Lord 's works, His wonderful works in the deep.^(x)

He spoke and raised a tempest that stirred up the waves of the sea.^[h](y)

Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage^[i] melting away in anguish,^(z)

they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless.^(aa)

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.^(ab)

He stilled the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea^[j] were hushed.^(ac)

They rejoiced when the waves^[k] grew quiet. Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.^(ad)

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity.^(ae)

Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.^(af)

He turns rivers into desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,^(ag)

and fruitful land into salty wasteland, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.^(ah)

He turns a desert into a pool of water, dry land into springs of water.^(ai)

He causes the hungry to settle there, and they establish a city where they can live.^(aj)

They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest.^(ak)

He blesses them, and they multiply greatly;^(al) He does not let their livestock decrease.^(am)

When they are diminished and are humbled by cruel oppression and sorrow,^(an)

He pours contempt on nobles^(ao) and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.^(ap)

But He lifts the needy out of their suffering^(aq) and makes their families multiply like flocks.^(ar)

The upright see it and rejoice,^(as) and all injustice shuts its mouth.^(at)

Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider^[l] the Lord 's acts of faithful love.^(au)

A song of ascents.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,^[a] we were like those who dream.^(a)

Our mouths were filled with laughter then,^(b) and our tongues with shouts of joy.^(c) Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."^(d)

The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful.^(e)

Restore our fortunes,^[b] Lord , like watercourses in the Negev.^(f)

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.^(g)

Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves.^(h)