1Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his mercy endures forever.

2Let the people the LORD defended repeat these words. They are the people he defended from the power of their enemies

3and gathered from other countries, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

4They wandered around the desert on a deserted road without finding an inhabited city.

5They were hungry and thirsty. They began to lose hope.

6In their distress they cried out to the LORD. He rescued them from their troubles.

7He led them on a road that went straight to an inhabited city.

8Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy. He performed his miracles for Adam's descendants.

9He gave plenty to drink to those who were thirsty. He filled those who were hungry with good food.

10Those who lived in the dark, in death's shadow were prisoners in misery. They were held in iron chains

11because they had rebelled against God's words and had despised the advice given by the Most High.

12So he humbled them with hard work. They fell down, but no one was there to help them.

13In their distress they cried out to the LORD. He saved them from their troubles.

14He brought them out of the dark, out of death's shadow. He broke apart their chains.

15Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy. He performed his miracles for Adam's descendants.

16He shattered bronze gates and cut iron bars in two.

17Fools suffered because of their disobedience and because of their crimes.

18All food was disgusting to them, and they came near death's gates.

19In their distress they cried out to the LORD. He saved them from their troubles.

20He sent his message and healed them. He rescued them from the grave.

21Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy. He performed his miracles for Adam's descendants.

22Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice. Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.

23Those who sail on the sea in ships, who do business on the high seas,

24have seen what the LORD can do, the miracles he performed in the depths of the sea.

25He spoke, and a storm began to blow, and it made the waves rise high.

26The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky. They plunged into the depths. Their courage melted in [the face of] disaster.

27They reeled and staggered like drunks, and all their skills as sailors became useless.

28In their distress they cried out to the LORD. He led them from their troubles.

29He made the storm calm down, and the waves became still.

30The sailors were glad that the storm was quiet. He guided them to the harbor they had longed for.

31Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy. He performed his miracles for Adam's descendants.

32Let them glorify him when the people are gathered for worship. Let them praise him in the company of respected leaders.

33He changes rivers into a desert, springs into thirsty ground,

34and fertile ground into a layer of salt because of the wickedness of the people living there.

35He changes deserts into lakes and dry ground into springs.

36There he settles those who are hungry, and they build cities to live in.

37They plant in fields and vineyards that produce crops.

38He blesses them, and their numbers multiply, and he does not allow a shortage of cattle.

39They became few in number and were humiliated because of oppression, disaster, and sorrow.

40He poured contempt on their influential people and made them stumble around in a pathless desert.

41But now he lifts needy people high above suffering and makes their families like flocks.

42Decent people will see this and rejoice, but all the wicked people will shut their mouths.

43Let those who [think] they are wise pay attention to these things so that they may understand the LORD's blessings.