Psalm 107

The appellation of 'good' is the primary problem in the world. To say that the light is good, or יְהוָה is good is a statement of faith. Each verse has its double chorus (two simple words: help and thank-you anticipated in Secundus's last story) and thematic unity.

Incipit

Give thanks to יְהוָה for good
for everlasting is his loving kindness
Speak redeemed of יְהוָה
who redeemed them from the grip of trouble
and from lands gathered them
from the sunrise and from the sunset
from the hidden and from the sea

Verse 1

They wandered in the wilderness in a waste way
a city to live in they did not find
hungry and longing their lives in them failing

And they cry to יְהוָה in their trouble
and out of their distress he delivers them
And he leads them in a way that is pleasing
to walk to a city to live in

Give thanks to יְהוָה
his loving kindness
and his wonderful works for the children of dust
For he has satisfied a life of longing
and a hungry life he has filled with good

Verse 2

Sitting in darkness and shadow of death
bindings of affliction and iron
for they contended words of God
and the counsel of the Most High they spurned
and he will humble their heart with toil
they fell and there was no help

And they cry to יְהוָה in their trouble
and out of their distress he delivers them
He rescues them from darkness and shadow of death
and their bonds he breaks

Give thanks to יְהוָה
his loving kindness
and his wonderful works for the children of dust
for he has broken the gates of brass
and bars of iron he has cut

Verse 3

foolish on the way of transgression
and for their guilt will be occupied
their lives will abhor all food
and they will touch even to the gates of death

And they cry to יְהוָה in their trouble
and out of their distress he delivers them
He sends his word and heals them
and delivers from their troubles

Give thanks to יְהוָה
his loving kindness
and his wonderful works for the children of dust
and they slaughter sacrifices of thanksgiving
and they recount his works with a cry of joy

Verse 4

Descending to the sea in the ships
doing occupation in the waters great
these have seen the works of יְהוָה
and his wonders in the deep
for he gives the word and raises the tempestuous wind
and lifts up their waves

they ascend heavens
they descend the abyss
their life dissolves in trouble
they make a feast
they totter as if intoxicated
and all their wisdom is engulfed

And they cry to יְהוָה in their trouble
and out of their distress he delivers them
He makes tempest into a whisper
and he stills their waves
and they rejoice for they are quiet
and he brings them to a province of their delight

Give thanks to יְהוָה
his loving kindness
and his wonderful works for the children of dust
and they exalt him in the congregation of the people
and where they live the elders praise him

Coda

He turns rivers into a wilderness
and a place of water into thirsty ground
a land of fruit into a salt plain
because of the evil of those dwelling in her

He turns a wilderness into a pool of water
and a land of drought into a place of water
and he makes the hungry live there
and they build a city to live in

and they sow fields
and they plant vineyards
and they yield fruits of produce
and he blesses them and they increase greatly
and their cattle do not decrease

And they become few and are humbled
through coercion of calamity and sorrow
pouring contempt on nobles
he makes them wander in disorder without a way
And he sets on high the poor out of affliction
and he makes them like a multitude in clans

The righteous see and rejoice
and all injustice shuts her mouth
whoever is wise and keeps these things
then they will discern the loving kindness of יְהוָה