Give Thanks to the LORD

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his loving kindness endures forever.

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

The psalm opens with a call to give thanks and gives two reasons: the LORD is good, and his loving kindness endures forever. The rest of the psalm is a set of examples.

Also read 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 105:1, Psalm 106:1, 2 Chronicles 5:13

Let the redeemed by the LORD say so,whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,

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

Let the redeemed by the LORD say so. Being rescued comes with a call to speak about it, and the stories that follow are that speaking.

Also read Isaiah 63:4, Isaiah 44:22, Deuteronomy 15:15, Titus 2:14

and gathered out of the lands,from the east and from the west,from the north and from the south.

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

The redeemed are gathered from the east, west, north and south. The psalm pictures people brought in from every direction.

Also read Jeremiah 31:10, Isaiah 56:8, Isaiah 49:12, Ezekiel 36:24

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way.They found no city to live in.

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

Also read Deuteronomy 8:15, Hebrews 11:38, Genesis 21:14-16, Revelation 12:6

Hungry and thirsty,their soul fainted in them.

Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Also read 1 Samuel 30:11-12, Isaiah 44:12, Jeremiah 14:18, Judges 15:18-19

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,and he delivered them out of their distresses.

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

This is the first time the refrain appears. The wanderers cry to the LORD in their trouble and he delivers them from their distresses, and the same line returns in verses 13, 19 and 28.

Also read 2 Timothy 3:11, Isaiah 41:17-18, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, Hosea 5:15

He led them also by a straight way,that they might go to a city to live in.

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

This verse ends the first rescue story, about people lost in the desert with no city to live in. God answers by leading them on a straight way to a city to live in. The KJV reads he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Also read Ezra 8:21-23, Jeremiah 31:38-40, Psalm 77:20, Psalm 136:16

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness,for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

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

The second refrain calls for praise for God's loving kindness and his wonderful deeds for the children of men. It follows each rescue, in verses 8, 15, 21 and 31.

Also read Deuteronomy 5:29, Psalm 107:31, Psalm 40:5, Psalm 111:4

For he satisfies the longing soul.He fills the hungry soul with good.

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

The reason given for the first group: he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good. It answers the hunger and thirst of verse 5.

Also read Jeremiah 31:14, Matthew 5:6, Psalm 22:26, Psalm 146:7

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,being bound in affliction and iron,

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

Also read Job 3:5, Psalm 105:18, Matthew 22:13, Exodus 2:23-24

because they rebelled against the words of God,and condemned the counsel of the Most High.

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

Also read Romans 1:28, 1 Samuel 2:5-8, Proverbs 1:30-31, Isaiah 63:10-11

Therefore he brought down their heart with labor.They fell down, and there was no one to help.

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

Also read 2 Kings 6:26-27, Exodus 5:18-19, Psalm 142:4, Exodus 2:23

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,and he saved them out of their distresses.

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

This is the second time the psalm's refrain appears, now for people sitting in darkness and bound in iron. They had rebelled against God's words, yet when they cry out he still saves them. The same pattern of trouble, cry and rescue repeats through the psalm.

Also read Psalm 107:6, Psalm 116:3-6, Jeremiah 31:18-20, 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,and broke away their chains.

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

The prisoners are brought out of darkness and the shadow of death, and their chains are broken. Verse 11 says they were there because they rebelled against God's words, yet they are rescued when they cry out.

Also read Psalm 116:16, Job 36:8, Luke 13:16, 1 Peter 2:9

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness,for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

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

Also read Psalm 107:21, Psalm 107:31, Psalm 107:8, Psalm 116:17-19

For he has broken the gates of bronze,and cut through bars of iron.

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

Also read Isaiah 45:1-2, Micah 2:13, Judges 16:3

Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience,and because of their iniquities.

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

The third group is afflicted because of their own disobedience and iniquities. The psalm calls them fools, and the next verse shows how far it goes: they cannot eat and draw near the gates of death. The KJV puts it Fools because of their transgression.

Also read Numbers 11:33-34, Proverbs 7:7, Numbers 12:10-13, Jeremiah 2:19

Their soul abhors all kinds of food.They draw near to the gates of death.

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

Also read Isaiah 38:10, Job 38:17, Psalm 88:3, Psalm 9:13

Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble,and he saves them out of their distresses.

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

The third group, called fools in verse 17, are afflicted because of their own wrongdoing and can no longer bear food. They cry to the LORD like the others and are saved out of their distresses.

Also read Psalm 30:8-12, Psalm 107:13, Psalm 107:6, Psalm 107:28

He sends his word, and heals them,and delivers them from their graves.

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

He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves. Healing here comes by God's word, and the rescue is from the edge of death, which verse 18 called the gates of death.

Also read Job 33:28-30, Psalm 30:2-3, 2 Kings 20:4-5, Psalm 49:15

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness,for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

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

The refrain of praise follows the healing. Verse 22 adds sacrifices of thanksgiving and telling his deeds with singing.

Also read Psalm 66:5, Psalm 107:15, 2 Chronicles 32:25, Psalm 107:8

Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving,and declare his deeds with singing.

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

After the rescue from sickness, the psalm asks for more than words. Those who were healed should offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell what God has done with singing. Thanks here is both an act of worship and a story told out loud.

Also read Psalm 116:12, 1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 73:28, Leviticus 7:12

Those who go down to the sea in ships,who do business in great waters,

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

This verse opens the fourth scene, about sailors and traders at sea. They go down to the sea in ships and do business in great waters, and the next verse says they see the LORD's wonders in the deep. The KJV reads They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters.

Also read Isaiah 42:10, Acts 27:9-28, Ezekiel 27:26, Psalm 48:7

these see the LORD’s deeds,and his wonders in the deep.

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

Also read Psalm 95:5, Job 38:8-11, Psalm 104:24-27

For he commands, and raises the stormy wind,which lifts up its waves.

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

Also read Psalm 105:31, Jonah 1:4, Matthew 8:24, Psalm 148:8

They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths.Their soul melts away because of trouble.

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

Also read Psalm 22:14, Nahum 2:10, Isaiah 13:7, Psalm 119:28

They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man,and are at their wits’ end.

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

Also read Isaiah 19:3, Job 37:20, Isaiah 24:20, Isaiah 29:9

Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble,and he brings them out of their distress.

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

In the storm, the sailors are at their wits' end, reeling like drunken men. Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress. It is the fourth time this refrain appears in the psalm, each time for a different kind of trouble.

Also read Psalm 107:19, Psalm 107:6, Acts 27:23-25, Jonah 1:14

He makes the storm a calm,so that its waves are still.

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

For the sailors, God makes the storm a calm and the waves go still. The same God who raised the stormy wind in verse 25 now quiets it.

Also read Jonah 1:15, Mark 4:39-41, Matthew 8:26, Psalm 65:7

Then they are glad because it is calm,so he brings them to their desired haven.

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

The storm scene closes with calm and arrival. The sailors are glad because the sea is still, and God brings them to their desired haven. The KJV reads Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Also read John 6:21

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness,for his wonderful deeds for the children of men!

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

Also read Hebrews 13:15, 2 Timothy 3:2, Micah 6:4-5, Psalm 72:18-19

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

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

Also read Exodus 15:2, Psalm 18:46, Psalm 35:18, Psalm 99:5

He turns rivers into a desert,water springs into a thirsty ground,

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

Also read Jeremiah 14:3, Isaiah 42:15, Isaiah 34:9-10, Zephaniah 2:9

and a fruitful land into a salt waste,for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

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

Also read Genesis 19:24-25, Genesis 13:13, Deuteronomy 29:23-28, Isaiah 32:13-15

He turns a desert into a pool of water,and a dry land into water springs.

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

After four rescue stories, the psalm widens to how God reshapes the land. Verse 33 turned rivers into desert, and now the reverse happens: a desert becomes a pool of water and dry land becomes springs. The next verses show the hungry settling there and planting fields.

Also read Isaiah 41:17-19, Isaiah 35:6-7, Psalm 114:8, 2 Kings 3:16-20

There he makes the hungry live,that they may prepare a city to live in,

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

Also read Psalm 146:7, Psalm 107:7, Luke 1:53, Acts 17:26

sow fields, plant vineyards,and reap the fruits of increase.

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

Also read Joel 1:10-12, Isaiah 37:30, Zechariah 8:12, Haggai 1:5-6

He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly.He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.

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

Also read Exodus 1:7, Exodus 9:3-7, Deuteronomy 30:9, Psalm 144:13-14

Again, they are diminished and bowed downthrough oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

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

Also read Exodus 1:13-14, 2 Kings 10:32, 2 Kings 8:3, 2 Kings 4:8

He pours contempt on princes,and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.

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

Also read 1 Samuel 5:9, Job 12:21, Job 12:24, Joshua 10:24-26

Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction,and increases their families like a flock.

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

Also read Genesis 48:11, Isaiah 49:20-22, Job 8:7, Job 42:16

The upright will see it, and be glad.All the wicked will shut their mouths.

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

Also read Proverbs 10:11, Isaiah 66:10-11, Exodus 11:7, Job 22:19

Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things.They will consider the loving kindnesses of the LORD.

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

The psalm ends with an instruction rather than a story. Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things and consider the loving kindnesses of the LORD.

Also read Ephesians 3:18-19, Jeremiah 9:12, Daniel 10:12, Psalm 28:5