Psalms 107

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 107

1¶ O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

2Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3And gathered them 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 solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he delivered them out of their distresses.

7And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!

9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10¶ Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, [being] bound in affliction and iron;

11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and [there was] none to help.

13Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses.

14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!

16For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

17¶ Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saveth them out of their distresses.

20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered [them] from their destructions.

21Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!

22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23¶ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.

28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!

32Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33¶ He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

39Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.

41Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh [him] families like a flock.

42The righteous shall see [it], and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43Whoso [is] wise, and will observe these [things], even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 107 is a call to give thanks unto the LORD for His enduring mercy and wonderful works. It illustrates God's deliverance of various groups in distress: wanderers, prisoners, the sick, and mariners, all of whom cried out to Him in their trouble. The psalm repeatedly urges men to praise God for His goodness and power, concluding with a reflection on His sovereignty over nature and nations.

Medium Summary

Psalm 107 begins with an exhortation to the redeemed to give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and everlasting mercy. It then presents four distinct scenarios where people experience severe distress and are delivered by God after crying out to Him. These include those who wandered lost and hungry in the wilderness, those imprisoned in darkness for rebellion, those afflicted by sickness due to their iniquities, and mariners facing life-threatening storms at sea. In each case, God hears their cry, brings them out of their troubles, and leads them to safety. A recurring refrain encourages men to praise the LORD for His goodness and marvelous works. The psalm concludes by describing God's power to alter landscapes, humble the proud, and exalt the poor, emphasizing that the wise will discern His lovingkindness in all these acts.

Long Summary

Psalm 107 opens with a fervent call for the redeemed of the LORD to give thanks for His goodness and mercy, which endures forever, as He has gathered them from all lands. The psalm then unfolds through a series of four illustrative narratives, each depicting a different form of human distress and God's compassionate deliverance. First, it portrays those who wandered in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty, whose souls fainted within them; upon crying to the LORD, He led them by a right way to a city of habitation. Second, it describes those bound in darkness and the shadow of death due to their rebellion against God's counsel; when they cried out, He brought them forth and broke their bands asunder. Third, it speaks of fools afflicted by their transgression and iniquities, drawing near to death; they cried to the LORD, and He sent His word to heal and deliver them from destruction. Fourth, it depicts mariners on the high seas, witnessing God's wonders yet facing terrifying storms that bring them to their wits' end; when they cried unto the LORD, He calmed the tempest and guided them to their desired haven. After each deliverance, a refrain echoes, urging men to praise the LORD for His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men, often suggesting acts of thanksgiving and public exaltation. The psalm concludes by illustrating God's sovereign power over creation and human affairs, showing Him able to transform fruitful lands into wilderness for the wicked, and dry ground into springs for the hungry. He exalts the poor and humbles princes, demonstrating His justice and lovingkindness. The wise are encouraged to observe these things and understand the great lovingkindness of the LORD.

Core Concepts

  • Divine DeliveranceThe central theme, illustrating God's active intervention to rescue individuals from various forms of distress, including wandering, imprisonment, sickness, and maritime peril.
  • Cry to the LORDA recurring motif where individuals in dire trouble call upon God, and He consistently responds by saving them from their distresses.
  • Thanksgiving and PraiseA repeated exhortation for humanity to acknowledge and laud God's goodness and His wonderful works, often suggesting public declaration and sacrifices of thanksgiving.
  • Consequences of RebellionThe psalm shows that some afflictions, such as imprisonment or sickness, are a direct result of rebellion against God's word or transgression, highlighting divine justice.
  • God's Sovereignty over NatureDemonstrated through His ability to guide wanderers, calm raging seas, and transform landscapes from barrenness to fertility and vice versa.
  • God's LovingkindnessThe ultimate attribute revealed throughout the psalm, as God consistently shows mercy and compassion to those who turn to Him, even when their troubles are self-inflicted.
  • The RedeemedThose who have experienced God's salvation and are called to declare His goodness and mercy, having been gathered from various lands.