Corpus Psalterium · Vol. V
Psalm CVII (107)
Cantillated — Refrain Thanksgiving
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 107 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
הֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
יֹ֭אמְרוּ גְּאוּלֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר גְּ֝אָלָ֗ם מִיַּד־צָֽר׃
and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
וּֽמֵאֲרָצ֗וֹת קִ֫בְּצָ֥ם מִמִּזְרָ֥ח וּמִֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב מִצָּפ֥וֹן וּמִיָּֽם׃
They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.
תָּע֣וּ בַ֭מִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימ֣וֹן דָּ֑רֶךְ עִ֥יר מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב לֹ֣א מָצָֽאוּ׃
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
רְעֵבִ֥ים גַּם־צְמֵאִ֑ים נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בָּהֶ֥ם תִּתְעַטָּֽף׃
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יַצִּילֵֽם׃
He led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in.
וַ֭יַּֽדְרִיכֵם בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֑ה לָ֝לֶ֗כֶת אֶל־עִ֥יר מוֹשָֽׁב׃
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
כִּי־הִ֭שְׂבִּיעַ נֶ֣פֶשׁ שֹׁקֵקָ֑ה וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ רְ֝עֵבָה מִלֵּא־טֽוֹב׃
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron,
יֹ֭שְׁבֵי חֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת אֲסִירֵ֖י עֳנִ֣י וּבַרְזֶֽל׃
because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High.
כִּֽי־הִמְר֥וּ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל וַעֲצַ֖ת עֶלְי֣וֹן נָאָֽצוּ׃
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help.
וַיַּכְנַ֣ע בֶּעָמָ֣ל לִבָּ֑ם כָּ֝שְׁל֗וּ וְאֵ֣ין עֹזֵֽר׃
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.
יֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת וּמוֹסְר֖וֹתֵיהֶ֣ם יְנַתֵּֽק׃
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron.
כִּֽי־שִׁ֭בַּר דַּלְת֣וֹת נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וּבְרִיחֵ֖י בַרְזֶ֣ל גִּדֵּֽעַ׃
Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities.
אֱ֭וִלִים מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּֽ֝מֵעֲוֺֽנֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יִתְעַנּֽוּ׃
Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.
כָּל־אֹ֭כֶל תְּתַעֵ֣ב נַפְשָׁ֑ם וַ֝יַּגִּ֗יעוּ עַד־שַׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת׃
Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses.
וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃
He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves.
יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּ֭בָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵ֑ם וִֽ֝ימַלֵּ֗ט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָֽם׃
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing.
וְ֭יִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵ֣י תוֹדָ֑ה וִֽיסַפְּר֖וּ מַעֲשָׂ֣יו בְּרִנָּֽה׃
Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters,
יוֹרְדֵ֣י הַ֭יָּם בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת עֹשֵׂ֥י מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּֽים׃
these see Yahweh’s deeds, and his wonders in the deep.
הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו בִּמְצוּלָֽה׃
For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וַֽ֭יַּעֲמֵד ר֣וּחַ סְעָרָ֑ה וַתְּרוֹמֵ֥ם גַּלָּֽיו׃
They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
יַעֲל֣וּ שָׁ֭מַיִם יֵרְד֣וּ תְהוֹמ֑וֹת נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בְּרָעָ֥ה תִתְמוֹגָֽג׃
They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
יָח֣וֹגּוּ וְ֭יָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּ֑וֹר וְכָל־חָ֝כְמָתָ֗ם תִּתְבַּלָּֽע׃
Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.
וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וּֽ֝מִמְּצֽוּקֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹצִיאֵֽם׃
He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.
יָקֵ֣ם סְ֭עָרָה לִדְמָמָ֑ה וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ גַּלֵּיהֶֽם׃
Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven.
וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כִֽי־יִשְׁתֹּ֑קוּ וַ֝יַּנְחֵ֗ם אֶל־מְח֥וֹז חֶפְצָֽם׃
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds for the children of men!
יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.
וִֽ֭ירֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל־עָ֑ם וּבְמוֹשַׁ֖ב זְקֵנִ֣ים יְהַלְלֽוּהוּ׃
He turns rivers into a desert, water springs into a thirsty ground,
יָשֵׂ֣ם נְהָר֣וֹת לְמִדְבָּ֑ר וּמֹצָ֥אֵי מַ֝֗יִם לְצִמָּאֽוֹן׃
and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
אֶ֣רֶץ פְּ֭רִי לִמְלֵחָ֑ה מֵ֝רָעַ֗ת יֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs.
יָשֵׂ֣ם מִ֭דְבָּר לַֽאֲגַם־מַ֑יִם וְאֶ֥רֶץ צִ֝יָּ֗ה לְמֹצָ֥אֵי מָֽיִם׃
There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in,
וַיּ֣וֹשֶׁב שָׁ֣ם רְעֵבִ֑ים וַ֝יְכוֹנְנ֗וּ עִ֣יר מוֹשָֽׁב׃
sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase.
וַיִּזְרְע֣וּ שָׂ֭דוֹת וַיִּטְּע֣וּ כְרָמִ֑ים וַ֝יַּעֲשׂ֗וּ פְּרִ֣י תְבֽוּאָה׃
He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.
וַיְבָרֲכֵ֣ם וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם לֹ֣א יַמְעִֽיט׃
Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן׃
He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ בּ֭וּז עַל־נְדִיבִ֑ים וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם בְּתֹ֣הוּ לֹא־דָֽרֶךְ׃
Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock.
וַיְשַׂגֵּ֣ב אֶבְי֣וֹן מֵע֑וֹנִי וַיָּ֥שֶׂם כַּ֝צֹּ֗אן מִשְׁפָּחֽוֹת׃
The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
יִרְא֣וּ יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ וְכָל־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה קָ֣פְצָה פִּֽיהָ׃
Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.
מִי־חָכָ֥ם וְיִשְׁמָר־אֵ֑לֶּה וְ֝יִתְבּֽוֹנְנ֗וּ חַֽסְדֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Out in the desert, wandering blind
No road to walk, no town to find
Hungry and thirsty, fading away
Their souls grew faint at the end of the day
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble
He led them home on a road made straight
Some sat in darkness, in death's own shade
Chained up in iron for the choice they made
They fought the word of the Most High God
So He bowed them low under labor hard
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble
He broke the bronze and the iron bars
Thank the LORD for His kindness
His wonders done for men
Thank the LORD for His kindness
His kindness has no end
Fools on the road of their rebel sin
Loathing their bread, growing weak and thin
Down to the gates where the dead lie low
They drew so near to the dark below
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble
He sent His word and He healed them whole
Some sailed out on the great white sea
Work in the waters
They came to see the wonders of God
In the deep below
He spoke
And the storm began to blow
Up to the heavens
Down to the deep
Courage all melted
They reeled off their feet
Staggering drunk
Their wisdom gone
And they cried to the LORD in their trouble
He hushed the storm to a whisper
And brought them safe to the harbor they sought
Thank the LORD for His kindness
His wonders done for men
Thank the LORD for His kindness
His kindness has no end
Lift Him up where the people meet
Praise Him where the elders sit
He turns the rivers to dust and salt
He turns the desert to springing pools
He feeds the hungry
He lifts the poor
He shames the proud who ruled before
The upright see it and sing for joy
And every wicked mouth is shut
Whoever is wise
Watch these things
Think on the kindness of the LORD
His kindness has no end
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 125 psalms free.