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v1
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loyal love is forever.
v2
Let the redeemed of Yahweh declare ^[Hebrew “say”] it, those whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
v3
and gathered from the lands, from east and from west, from north and from south. ^[Hebrew “sea” (yam), which usually means “west” in a listing of directions. The word “south” is expected (Hebrew yamin). Either the MT was corrupted early (along with Isa 49:12; the LXX reads “sea” in both) or it looks to the bodies of waters to the south (see also the Targum)]
v4
They wandered in the wilderness, in a desert. They could find no way ^[The MT reads “way” with the previous line.] to a city to inhabit.
v5
Hungry and thirsty, their soul grew faint within them.
v6
Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble. He delivered them from their distresses
v7
and led them by a straight way to get to a city to inhabit.
v8
Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love, and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
v9
for he satisfies the longing soul, ^[Thirst is perhaps in view] and the hungry soul he fills with good.
v10
Those who sat in darkness and gloom, prisoners of misery and iron—
v11
because they rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High,
v12
he therefore humbled their heart with trouble. They stumbled and there was no helper.
v13
Then they called to Yahweh for help in their trouble; he saved them from their distresses.
v14
He brought them out of darkness and gloom, and tore off their bonds.
v15
Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
v16
for he shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts through the bars of iron.
v17
Fools, because of their rebellious way and their iniquities, were afflicted.
v18
Their soul abhorred all food, and they approached the gates of death.
v19
Then they called to Yahweh for help in their trouble. He saved them from their distresses.
v20
He sent his word and healed them, and he delivered them from their pits. ^[This word is only found elsewhere in Lam 4:20 with the sense of “traps”]
v21
Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love, and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
v22
and let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his works with rejoicing.
v23
Those who went down to the sea into ships, doing business on the high seas, ^[Literally “many waters”]
v24
they saw the works of Yahweh, and his wonderful deeds in the deep.
v25
For he spoke and raised up a stormy wind, and it whipped up its waves.
v26
They rose to the heavens; they plunged to the depths. Their soul melted in their calamity.
v27
They reeled and staggered like a drunkard, and they were at their wits’ end. ^[Literally “all their wisdom was swallowed up”]
v28
Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distresses.
v29
He made the storm be still and their waves became calm.
v30
Then they were glad because they grew silent, so he guided them to their desired harbor.
v31
Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
v32
and let them exalt him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
v33
He turns rivers into a wilderness and springs of water into thirsty ground,
v34
a fruitful land into a salty place, because of the evil of its inhabitants.
v35
He turns a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry land into springs of water.
v36
And he settles the hungry there, so that they may establish a city to inhabit,
v37
and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield fruit at harvest. ^[Hebrew “and make a fruit of produce”]
v38
And he blesses them and they multiply greatly, and he does not let their cattle become few.
v39
When they become few and they are bent down from the oppression of calamity and grief,
v40
he pours contempt on princes and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
v41
But he protects ^[The sense is that of making something inaccessibly high, like a fortress] the needy from misery, and he makes their families like a flock.
v42
The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
v43
Whoever is wise, then let him observe these things, and let them consider Yahweh’s acts of loyal love.