The Heavens Declare (19)
Give `thanks_ to the LORD, for / he is good,
`for his loving kind_ ness en / dures forever.
`Let_ the redeemed_ of the LORD_ / say~ so,
`whom he has redeemed_ from the hand_ of the / adversary, +
and `gathered out of the lands, from the east and / from the west,
`from the north and / from the south.
They `wandered in the wilderness_ in a / desert way.
They `found no city to_ / live~ in.
`Hungry and_ / thir~ sty,
their `spirits failed with/ in~ them.
`Then they cried_ to the LORD_ / in their trouble,
and `he delivered them_ out of / their distresses.
He `led them by a / straight~ way,
`that they might go to a city to_ / live~ in.
(Ref)
`Let them praise the LORD_ for his / loving kindness,
`for his wonderful_ deeds to / all mankind!
`For he satisfies the / thir~ sty.
He `fills the hungry with_ / good~ things.
`Some_ sat in darkness and_ in the shadow / of~ death,
`being bound_ in affliction / and~ iron,
be `cause_ they rebelled against the / words of God,
`and condemned the counsel of the / Most~ High. +
`Therefore he_ humbled their_ heart with / la~ bor.
`They fell down, and there was no one / to~ help.
`Then they cried_ to the LORD_ / in their trouble,
`and he saved them out of / their distresses.
He `brought them out of darkness and the shadow / of~ death,
and `broke a / way their chains.
(Ref)
`Let them praise the LORD_ for his / loving kindness,
`for his wonderful_ deeds to / all mankind!
For `he has bro_ ken the / gates of bronze,
and `cut through / bars of iron.
`Fools_ are afflicted because of their diso / bedience,
`and because of their in / iquities.
They `loathe all / kinds of food.
`They draw near_ to the / gates of death.
`Then they cry_ to the LORD_ / in their trouble,
`and he saves them out of / their distresses.
He `sends his word, and / heals~ them,
`and delivers them_ / from their graves.
(Ref)
`Let them praise the LORD_ for his / loving kindness,
`for his wonderful_ deeds to / all mankind!
`Let them of_ fer the sacrifices / of thanksgiving,
`and declare his / deeds with singing.
`Those who go down to the / sea in ships,
`who do business / in great waters,
`these_ see the deeds_ / of the LORD,
`and his wonders / in the deep.
For `he commands, and raises the_ / stormy wind,
`which lifts / up its waves.
They `mount up to the sky_; they go down again_ / to the depths.
Their `courage melts away be / cause of trouble. +
`They reel back and forth, and stagger like a / drunken man,
`and are at their / wits’~ end.
`Then they cry_ to the LORD_ / in their trouble,
`and he brings them out of / their distress.
He `makes the / storm a calm,
so `that its / waves are still. +
Then `they are glad because_ / it is calm,
`so he brings them to_ their de / sired~ haven.
(Ref)
`Let them praise the LORD_ for his / loving kindness,
`for his wonderful_ deeds for / all mankind!
`Let_ them exalt him also in_ the assembly / of the people,
and `praise him in the seat_ / of the elders.
`He turns rivers in_ / to a desert,
`water springs into a / thirsty ground,
`and a fruitful land into a / salt~ waste,
`for the wickedness of those who / dwell in it.
He `turns a desert in_ to a / pool of water,
`and a dry land into / water springs.
`There he makes the / hungry live,
`that they may prepare a city / to live in.
(Ref)
`They sow fields_, / plant~ vineyards,
and `reap the fruits of / in~ crease.
He `blesses them_ also, so that they are multiplied_ / great~ ly.
`He does not allow their livestock / to decrease.
`When they are diminished / and bowed down
`through oppression, trouble, / and~ sorrow,
he `pours contempt on / prin~ ces,
and `causes them to wander in a / trackless waste.
`But he lifts the needy out of / their affliction,
and `increases their families_ / like a flock.
The `upright will_ see it, / and be glad.
`All the wicked will_ / shut their mouths. +
`Whoever is wise will pay attention / to these things.
`They_ will consider the_ loving kindnesses_ / of the LORD.