| 1
| Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
and his mercy endures for ever.
|
| 2
| Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim *
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
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| 3
| He gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
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| 4
| Some wandered in desert wastes; *
they found no way to a city where they might dwell.
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| 5
| They were hungry and thirsty; *
their spirits languished within them.
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| 6
| Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
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| 7
| He put their feet on a straight path *
to go to a city where they might dwell.
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| 8
| Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.
|
| 9
| For he satisfies the thirsty *
and fills the hungry with good things.
|
| 10
| Some sat in darkness and deep gloom, *
bound fast in misery and iron;
|
| 11
| Because they rebelled against the words of God *
and despised the counsel of the Most High.
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| 12
| So he humbled their spirits with hard labor; *
they stumbled, and there was none to help.
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| 13
| Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
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| 14
| He led them out of darkness and deep gloom *
and broke their bonds asunder.
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| 15
| Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.
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| 16
| For he shatters the doors of bronze *
and breaks in two the iron bars.
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| 17
| Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *
they were afflicted because of their sins.
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| 18
| They abhorred all manner of food *
and drew near to death's door.
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| 19
| Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
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| 20
| He sent forth his word and healed them *
and saved them from the grave.
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| 21
| Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.
|
| 22
| Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.
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| 23
| Some went down to the sea in ships *
and plied their trade in deep waters;
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| 24
| They beheld the works of the LORD *
and his wonders in the deep.
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| 25
| Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose, *
which tossed high the waves of the sea.
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| 26
| They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths;
*
their hearts melted because of their peril.
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| 27
| They reeled and staggered like drunkards *
and were at their wits' end.
|
| 28
| Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
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| 29
| He stilled the storm to a whisper *
and quieted the waves of the sea.
|
| 30
| Then were they glad because of the calm, *
and he brought them to the harbor they were bound for.
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| 31
| Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.
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| 32
| Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people
*
and praise him in the council of the elders.
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| 33
| The LORD changed rivers into deserts, *
and water-springs into thirsty ground,
|
| 34
| A fruitful land into salt flats, *
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.
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| 35
| He changed deserts into pools of water *
and dry land into water-springs.
|
| 36
| He settled the hungry there, *
and they founded a city to dwell in.
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| 37
| They sowed fields, and planted vineyards,
*
and brought in a fruitful harvest.
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| 38
| He blessed them, so that they increased greatly;
*
he did not let their herds decrease.
|
| 39
| Yet when they were diminished and brought
low, *
through stress of adversity and sorrow,
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| 40
| (He pours contempt on princes *
and makes them wander in trackless wastes)
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| 41
| He lifted up the poor out of misery *
and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.
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| 42
| The upright will see this and rejoice, *
but all wickedness will shut its mouth.
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| 43
| Whoever is wise will ponder these things,
*
and consider well the mercies of the LORD.
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