CORPUS-PSALTERIUMVol. V
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Corpus Psalterium · Vol. V

Psalm CVII (107)

Cantillated — Refrain Thanksgiving

Paul Whitehorn

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Psalm 107 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.

1

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

הֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

2

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

יֹ֭אמְרוּ גְּאוּלֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר גְּ֝אָלָ֗ם מִיַּד־צָֽר׃

3

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׃

4

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

תָּע֣וּ בַ֭מִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימ֣וֹן דָּ֑רֶךְ עִ֥יר מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב לֹ֣א מָצָֽאוּ׃

5

Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

רְעֵבִ֥ים גַּם־צְמֵאִ֑ים נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בָּהֶ֥ם תִּתְעַטָּֽף׃

6

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

וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יַצִּילֵֽם׃

7

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׃

8

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

יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃

9

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

כִּי־הִ֭שְׂבִּיעַ נֶ֣פֶשׁ שֹׁקֵקָ֑ה וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ רְ֝עֵבָה מִלֵּא־טֽוֹב׃

10

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

יֹ֭שְׁבֵי חֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת אֲסִירֵ֖י עֳנִ֣י וּבַרְזֶֽל׃

11

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

כִּֽי־הִמְר֥וּ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל וַעֲצַ֖ת עֶלְי֣וֹן נָאָֽצוּ׃

12

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

וַיַּכְנַ֣ע בֶּעָמָ֣ל לִבָּ֑ם כָּ֝שְׁל֗וּ וְאֵ֣ין עֹזֵֽר׃

13

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

וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃

14

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

יֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת וּמוֹסְר֖וֹתֵיהֶ֣ם יְנַתֵּֽק׃

15

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

יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃

16

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

כִּֽי־שִׁ֭בַּר דַּלְת֣וֹת נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וּבְרִיחֵ֖י בַרְזֶ֣ל גִּדֵּֽעַ׃

17

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

אֱ֭וִלִים מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּֽ֝מֵעֲוֺֽנֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יִתְעַנּֽוּ׃

18

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

כָּל־אֹ֭כֶל תְּתַעֵ֣ב נַפְשָׁ֑ם וַ֝יַּגִּ֗יעוּ עַד־שַׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת׃

19

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

וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃

20

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

יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּ֭בָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵ֑ם וִֽ֝ימַלֵּ֗ט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָֽם׃

21

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

יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃

22

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

וְ֭יִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵ֣י תוֹדָ֑ה וִֽיסַפְּר֖וּ מַעֲשָׂ֣יו בְּרִנָּֽה׃

23

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

יוֹרְדֵ֣י הַ֭יָּם בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת עֹשֵׂ֥י מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּֽים׃

24

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

הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו בִּמְצוּלָֽה׃

25

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

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וַֽ֭יַּעֲמֵד ר֣וּחַ סְעָרָ֑ה וַתְּרוֹמֵ֥ם גַּלָּֽיו׃

26

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׃

27

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

יָח֣וֹגּוּ וְ֭יָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּ֑וֹר וְכָל־חָ֝כְמָתָ֗ם תִּתְבַּלָּֽע׃

28

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

וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וּֽ֝מִמְּצֽוּקֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹצִיאֵֽם׃

29

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

יָקֵ֣ם סְ֭עָרָה לִדְמָמָ֑ה וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ גַּלֵּיהֶֽם׃

30

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

וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כִֽי־יִשְׁתֹּ֑קוּ וַ֝יַּנְחֵ֗ם אֶל־מְח֥וֹז חֶפְצָֽם׃

31

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

יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃

32

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׃

33

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

יָשֵׂ֣ם נְהָר֣וֹת לְמִדְבָּ֑ר וּמֹצָ֥אֵי מַ֝֗יִם לְצִמָּאֽוֹן׃

34

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

אֶ֣רֶץ פְּ֭רִי לִמְלֵחָ֑ה מֵ֝רָעַ֗ת יֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃

35

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

יָשֵׂ֣ם מִ֭דְבָּר לַֽאֲגַם־מַ֑יִם וְאֶ֥רֶץ צִ֝יָּ֗ה לְמֹצָ֥אֵי מָֽיִם׃

36

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

וַיּ֣וֹשֶׁב שָׁ֣ם רְעֵבִ֑ים וַ֝יְכוֹנְנ֗וּ עִ֣יר מוֹשָֽׁב׃

37

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

וַיִּזְרְע֣וּ שָׂ֭דוֹת וַיִּטְּע֣וּ כְרָמִ֑ים וַ֝יַּעֲשׂ֗וּ פְּרִ֣י תְבֽוּאָה׃

38

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

וַיְבָרֲכֵ֣ם וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם לֹ֣א יַמְעִֽיט׃

39

Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן׃

40

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

שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ בּ֭וּז עַל־נְדִיבִ֑ים וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם בְּתֹ֣הוּ לֹא־דָֽרֶךְ׃

41

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

וַיְשַׂגֵּ֣ב אֶבְי֣וֹן מֵע֑וֹנִי וַיָּ֥שֶׂם כַּ֝צֹּ֗אן מִשְׁפָּחֽוֹת׃

42

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

יִרְא֣וּ יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ וְכָל־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה קָ֣פְצָה פִּֽיהָ׃

43

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

and 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 wide sea

Working 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

Then 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 150 psalms free.

About these songs. They are a summary and a commentary on the Psalms, not a word-for-word translation. Read what these songs are →

What These Songs Are, and What They Are Not

These songs are not a word-for-word translation of the Psalms. They were never meant to be. Nor do they try to capture every idea in every psalm. In a song, that would be impossible.

What we have done is capture the essence of each psalm: what matters most in it. Think of each song as a summary. Think of it as a cheat sheet. The purpose of the psalm is still being met. God's word to mankind is still being heard.

Behind many of these lines is word research: deep study of the meaning of the Hebrew. So where a line sounds different from your translation, and you think it is wrong, study it. We believe you will find that the essence of what we sing is true.

The truth is that no one can set the Psalms to music without also becoming a commentator. That is what this is. It is a modern commentary on the Psalms: not only the Psalms themselves, and not only the Psalms being sung. So do not think that every word of the psalm is here. It is not. Read the psalm itself, in full.

Why do this at all? Because we believe God intended humanity to be surrounded by His word. This was always the entertainment He wanted us to have: not hours of television, not a day lost in a phone looking at nonsense. The blessed man of Psalm 1 meditates on God's word day and night. How can we meditate on His word if we do not surround ourselves with it?

As ministers, our first responsibility is to share God's word with people. That is what these songs are for.

Paul Whitehorn