His Steadfast Love Endures
Four groups tell one story: travelers lost in the desert, prisoners in iron, fools sick from their own choices, and sailors whose skill was swallowed by a storm. Each cried out to our Father, each was brought through, each is told to say so aloud.
107 1Give thanks to our Father, for he is good; his covenant love endures forever.
2Let the redeemed of our Father say so—those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy, 3and gathered in from the lands, from east and west, from north and from the sea.
4Some wandered in the wilderness, in desert wastes, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5Hungry and thirsty, their souls grew faint. 6Then they cried out to our Father in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7He led them by a straight road, to reach a city where they could settle. 8Let them thank our Father for his covenant love, for his wonderful works to the children of mankind. 9For he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good things.
10Some sat in darkness and the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and iron chains, 11because they had rebelled against the words of our Father and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12So he humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13Then they cried to our Father in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and tore their chains apart. 15Let them thank our Father for his covenant love, for his wonderful works to the children of mankind. 16For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts through the bars of iron.
17Some became fools through their rebellious ways, and because of their sins they suffered affliction. 18They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death. 19Then they cried to our Father in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20He sent out his word and healed them, and rescued them from the pit. 21Let them thank our Father for his covenant love, for his wonderful works to the children of mankind. 22And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.
23Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters. 24They saw the deeds of our Father, his wondrous works in the deep. 25For he spoke and stirred up a stormy wind that lifted high the waves. 26They rose up to the heavens and sank down to the depths; their courage melted away in their peril. 27They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and all their skill was swallowed up. 28Then they cried to our Father in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30Then they were glad because the waters grew calm, and he guided them to their desired harbor. 31Let them thank our Father for his covenant love, for his wonderful works to the children of mankind. 32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the council of the elders.
33He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34a fruitful land into a salt wasteland, because of the evil of those who dwell in it. 35He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. 36There he settles the hungry, and they establish a city to live in. 37They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest. 38He blesses them, and they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock decrease.
39When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, calamity, and sorrow, 40he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland; 41but he lifts the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43Whoever is wise, let them pay attention to these things and consider the covenant love of our Father.
