1Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: his mercy lasts for ever.
2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3those he gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4They wandered in the desert, on a lonely road. They found no city to live in.
5Hungry and thirsty, their soul grew faint within them.
6Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he rescued them out of their distress.
7He led them out by the right way, so that they could go to a city to live in.
8If only people would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with good things.
10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and in iron chains,
11because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12So he brought down their heart with hard labour. They fell down, and there was no one to help.
13Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distress.
14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains apart.
15If only people would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut through the bars of iron.
17Fools suffer because they have broken the law, and because of their sins.
18Their soul hates every kind of food, and they come close to the gates of death.
19Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distress.
20He sent his word and healed them, and rescued them from the pit that would destroy them.
21If only people would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his works with joy.
23Some go down to the sea in ships, and do their work on the great waters.
24They see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25For he commands, and he raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26They go up to the sky, they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of the trouble.
27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and all their skill is gone.
28Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.
29He makes the storm be calm, so that the waves are still.
30Then they are glad because the sea is quiet. So he brings them to the harbour they longed for.
31If only people would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32Let them lift him high in the gathering of the people, and praise him where the elders are assembled.
33He turns rivers into a desert, and springs of water into dry ground.
34He turns a fruitful land into salty waste, because of the wickedness of those who live in it.
35He turns the desert into a pool of water, and dry ground into springs of water.
36There he settles the hungry, so that they may build a city to live in,
37and sow the fields, and plant vineyards which give a rich harvest.
38He blesses them too, so that they increase greatly, and he does not let their cattle grow fewer.
39Then again, they are made few and brought low by oppression, trouble and sorrow.
40He pours contempt on princes, and makes them wander in a waste where there is no road.
41Yet he lifts the poor up out of their misery, and makes their families like a flock.
42The righteous will see it and be glad, and all wickedness will shut its mouth.
43Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things, and they will understand the loving kindness of the LORD.