PSALMS BOOK FIVE Psalms 107 - 150 PSALM 107 1 <THANK THE LORD FOR HIS CONSTANT LOVE> [Hallelujah.] 2 1 O give thanks to the Lord for he is good! His constant love is everlasting! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord repeat this--- those he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 3 4 4 Some wandered in the trackless desert, not finding their way to a place of habitation. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted within them ( or, they had given up hope ). 6 Then, in their adversity, they cried to the Lord and he delivered them from their distress: 7 he showed them the right way ( or, the direct way to reach... ) until they reached a place of habitation. 8 Let them thank the Lord for his constant love, for his wonderful deeds to humanity. 9 For he satisfies those who are thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things. 10 Some lived in deep darkness ( or, a hopeless situation ); prisoners suffering and in chains 11 because they had defied the word of God and spurned the instruction of the Most High. 12 He subdued them with hard labor; they stumbled with no one to help. 13 Then, in their trouble, they cried to the Lord, 1 This Psalm consists of a hymn of thanksgiving: 1=32 and a song of praise: 33-43. It is possible that these originally were independent compositions which were brought together at a later date. In the Hebrew text verses 23-28 ( or 22 - 27 ) and verse 40 have an inverted "nun" n in the margin. The significance is not understood. Some scholars feel it is a mark for a parenthesis but the verses fit so well in the Psalm that it seems unlikely. 2 Some translators use the last line of Psalm 106 as the first line of Psalm 107. This is done so the word "Amen" is at the conclusion of each of the Books of Psalms. Because of this it appears here in brackets. 3 MT: "sea." A slight emendation provides the word "south" which fits the verse. Some scholars have tired to say "the sea to the south", the Gulf of Aqabah which seems doubtful though King Solomon had a fleet of ships based in a port there. 4 Literally: "in the wilderness, in the waste." 239 and he delivered them from their distress. 14 He led them out of their hopeless situation and shattered their chains. 15 Let them thank the Lord for his constant love, for his wonderful deeds to humanity! 16 For he shatters the bronze doors ( or, the prison gate ), and breaks apart the iron bars. 5 17 Some were fools because they pursued sinful ways, and endured affliction because of their iniquities. 18 Food was loathsome to them and they were near death. 19 Then, in their trouble, they cried to the Lord and he delivered them from their distress. 20 He issued his command and healed them and saved them from destruction. 6 21 Let them thank the Lord for his constant love, for his wonderful deeds to humanity, 22 and let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, telling of God's deeds in joyful song! 23 Some went down to the sea in ships, plying their trade on the great waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous acts in the deep. 25 For he commanded and the stormy wind began to blow, which caused the waves 7 to surge, 26 mounting up to heaven and then plunging down to the depths. Their courage 8 melted away in their evil plight (or, causing them to be sea sick ). 27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards and they were unable to do their work. 28 Then, in their trouble, they cried to the Lord and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He silenced the raging storm and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad because it was calm and he brought them to their desired harbor. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his constant love, for his wonderful deeds to humanity! 32 Let them joyously proclaim him in the congregation of the people, 5 So: MT. Some scholars emend σψλωξ "sick." 6 Literally: "the pit [of death]." 7 Literally: "it's waves." 8 Literally: "their soul." 240 and praise him in the assembly of the elders! 9 33 He causes rivers to dry up completely; springs of water become arid land. 34 Fruitful land is turned into a salt marsh because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into pools of water, and parched land into springs of water. 36 There he permits the hungry to dwell. They establish a place of habitation. 37 They sow fields and plant vineyards and obtain an abundant harvest. 10 38 He blesses them and their numbers increase and he does not let their herds of cattle decrease. 39 When their numbers dwindle and they are crushed, through oppression, trouble and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on the oppressors and they become lost, roaming in trackless deserts. 11 41 but he rescues the needy from their distress and makes their families increase like flocks. 42 The upright see this and rejoice; and all the wicked are silenced. 43 Whoever is wise will think about these things and consider the Lord's constant love! PSALM 108 12 <PRAISE AND PETITION> <A Song. A Psalm of David.> 1 My heart is steadfast, O God! My heart 13 is steadfast! I, myself, will sing, I will sing praises! Awake my soul! 2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn! 14 3 O Lord, I will praise you among all the people! I will sing praises to you among the nations: 4 for your constant love is as high as the heavens, your faithfulness extends to the clouds. 9 Literally: "into a desert." 10 Literally: "then he blessed them." 11 Some scholars place verse 39 after verse 40. 12 Portions of this Psalm are found in other Psalms. Verses 1-5 in Psalm 57:7-11. Verses 6-13 in Psalm 60:5-12. 13 Not in MT. Supported by 5 Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Syriac and Psalm 57:7. 14 The Hebrew word translated "Lord" is different in Psalm 57:9. 241 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 In order that your beloved might be rescued, give victory with your right hand and respond to my 15 plea! 7 God promised in his sanctuary ( or, by his holiness ), "With exultation I will divide up Shechem, and distribute the Valley of Succoth. 8 Gilead is mine! Manasseh is mine! Ephraim is my helmet ( or, chief stronghold ), Judah is my scepter. 9 Moab is my wash-basin; upon Edom I hurl my shoe: 16 I shout in triumph over Philistia. 10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me 17 to Edom? 11 Have you really rejected us, O God? O God, you have not been accompanying our armies. 12 O grant us aid against the enemy for human help is worthless! 13 With God on our side we will triumph; it is he who will defeat our enemies! PSALM 109 <A PRAYER FOR HELP FROM THE LORD> <To the Choirmaster: A Psalm of David.> 1 Be not silent, O God whom I praise! 18 2 For the wicked and liars speak loudly against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. 3 They surround me with malicious words and attack me for no reason. 19 4 They respond to my love with accusations, even as I pray 20 for them ( or, even as I must be judged ). 5 They repay me evil for good and hatred for my love. 21 6 Appoint a wicked man ( or, a corrupt judge ) against him, 15 "our" in Psalm 60:5. 16 As a symbol of possession. 17 Emended: ψνξνψ The emendation is supported by LXX and Syriac. The MT has "who has led me" here and also in Psalm 60:9. 18 "wicked and liars" with different vowel points could read "a mouth of wickedness." 19 MT adds: "in return for my love." 20 Hebrew uncertain. So: Syriac. 21 Some scholars insert "They say" at the beginning of this verse and end the quotation with verse 19. Since there is a change in pronouns in these verses making it a quotation is plausible. 242 let an accuser 22 bring him to trial. 23 7 May he be tried, and found guilty; let his prayer 24 be considered as sin! 8 May his life be short; may another seize his goods ( or possessions, hoarded wealth ) 25 9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow! 10 May his children wander about and beg; may they be driven out of 26 their hovels. 11 May the creditor seize all his property; may strangers plunder all that is his. 12 Let no one show him mercy nor pity his fatherless children! 13 May his posterity be cut off' may his 27 name be blotted out ( or, may his name be extinguished) to the second generation. 28 14 May the Lord remember the iniquities of his fathers and may the sin of his mother never be erased. 15 Let the Lord continually be aware of this and may his 29 memory be banished from the earth; 16 because he did not remember to show kindness but persecuted the poor and needy and the broken hearted to their death.