Psalm CVII.
1
O bless the Lord, for he is good,
No end his mercies know:
And let his own redeemed ones
Confess it to be so.
2
Who sav'd them from their enemies,
And from their bondage bought:
And when they were dispers'd about,
From every quarter brought.
3
They wandred in the wilderness,
Where cities there are none:
And when with hunger and with thirst
Their life was almost gone.
4
Then in distress they cri'd to God,
And he deliverance sent:
And led them right, that they at last
Unto a city went.
5
O that all men would praise the Lord;
For all his goodness then,
And for the wonders he has done
Before the sons of men.
6
He satisfies the longing soul,
That cries to him for food,
And when they are with hunger pin'd,
He filleth them with good.
7
Poor prisoners that in darkness sit,
Fast bound in iron bands,
Because they sinn'd against the Lord,
And slighted his commands.
8
For which he justly brought them down
To misery and grief:
They cri'd, and there was none to help,
Nor to afford relief.
9
Then in distress they cri'd to God,
Who did compassion take:
And from their dungeons brought them out,
And all their fetters brake.
10
O that all men would praise the Lord,
For all his goodness then,
And for the wonders he has done
Before the sons of men.
11
For he has broke the gates of brass,
By his great power and might:
And strongest bars of Iron made,
Has cut in sunder quite.
12
When foolish men are plagu'd for sin,
And under sickness lie;
So that they can no succour take,
But ready are to die.
13
Then in their troubles and distress
They cry unto the Lord:
And he from death delivers them,
And heals them by his word.
14
O that all men would praise the Lord,
For all his goodness then,
And for the wonders he has done
Before the sons of men.
15
Yea let them all before him come,
And sacrifices bring;
To thank him for his mighty works,
And to his honour sing.
16
All they whose business lies in ships,
And on the ocean keep,
These see the mighty works of God,
And wonders in the deep.
17
For he commands the stormy wind,
That lifteth up the waves:
They mount to heaven and down again,
As into gulphs or graves.
18
So that their hearts within them melt,
They stagger to and fro;
Like drunken or distracted men,
And know not what to do.
19
Then in distress they cry to God,
And he from trouble saves:
He turns the storm into a calm,
And stills the raging waves.
20
He makes their hearts to leap for joy,
To see the danger past:
And so to their desired port
He brings them safe at last.
21
O that all men would praise the Lord,
For all his goodness then;
And for the wonders he has done
Before the sons of men.
22
Let them exalt his glorious name,
In congregations great:
And praise him where the elders are,
In their assemblies met.
23
He to a desart turns a land,
Where rivers did abound:
And where the springs were wont to flow,
To dry and barren ground.
24
He turns a fat and fruitful soil
To barrenness for sin,
And for the heinous wickedness
Of them that dwell therein.
25
Again to lakes and fruitful springs,
He turns a wilderness:
And makes the hungry there to dwell,
And cities to possess.
26
And sow the fields and vineyards plant,
That great increase may give:
And makes them all, both man and beast
To multiply and thrive.
27
And when they are diminished,
And almost come to nought,
Oppressed by their enemies,
And to affliction brought:
28
Then he on princes pours contempt,
That they to desarts fly:
But sets the poor man up aloft,
And makes him multiply:
29
The righteous man shall much rejoyce,
These works of God to see:
But wicked men shall stop their mouths,
And quite confounded be.
30
Whoso is wise, and will observe,
These things with due regard,
May clearly see and understand
The goodness of the Lord.
