1Praise God, for he is good: for still
his mercies lasting be.
2Let God's redeemed say so, whom he
from th' en'my's hand did free;
3And gathered them out of the lands,
from north, south, east, and west.
4They strayed in desert's pathless way,
no city found to rest.
5For thirst and hunger in them faints
6 their soul. When straits them press,
They cry unto the Lord, and he
them frees from their distress.
7Them also in a way to walk
that right is he did guide,
That they might to a city go,
wherein they might abide.
8O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
9For he the soul that longing is
doth fully satisfy;
With goodness he the hungry soul
doth fill abundantly.
10Such as shut up in darkness deep,
and in death's shade abide,
Whom strongly hath affliction bound,
and irons fast have tried:
11Because against the words of God
they wrought rebelliously,
And they the counsel did contemn
of him that is most High:
12Their heart he did bring down with grief,
they fell, no help could have.
13In trouble then they cried to God,
he them from straits did save.
14He out of darkness did them bring,
and from death's shade them take;
These bands, wherewith they had been bound,
asunder quite he brake.
15O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
16Because the mighty gates of brass
in pieces he did tear,
By him in sunder also cut
the bars of iron were.
17Fools, for their sin, and their offence,
do sore affliction bear;
18All kind of meat their soul abhors;
they to death's gates draw near.
19In grief they cry to God; he saves
them from their miseries.
20He sends his word, them heals, and them
from their destructions frees.
21O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
22And let them sacrifice to him
off 'rings of thankfulness;
And let them shew abroad his works
in songs of joyfulness.
23Who go to sea in ships, and in
great waters trading be,
24Within the deep these men God's works
and his great wonders see.
25For he commands, and forth in haste
the stormy tempest flies,
Which makes the sea with rolling waves
aloft to swell and rise.
26They mount to heav'n, then to the depths
they do go down again;
Their soul doth faint and melt away
with trouble and with pain.
27They reel and stagger like one drunk,
at their wit's end they be:
28Then they to God in trouble cry,
who them from straits doth free.
29The storm is chang’d into a calm
at his command and will;
So that the waves, which rag’d before,
now quiet are and still.
30Then are they glad, because at rest
and quiet now they be:
So to the haven he them brings,
which they desir’d to see.
31O that men to the Lord would give
praise for his goodness then,
And for his works of wonder done
unto the sons of men!
32Among the people gathered
let them exalt his name;
Among assembled elders spread
his most renowned fame.
33He to dry land turns water-springs,
and floods to wilderness;
34For sins of those that dwell therein,
fat land to barrenness.
35The burnt and parched wilderness
to water-pools he brings;
The ground that was dried up before
he turns to water-springs:
36And there, for dwelling, he a place
doth to the hungry give,
That they a city may prepare
commodiously to live.
37There sow they fields, and vineyards plant,
to yield fruits of increase.
38His blessing makes them multiply,
lets not their beasts decrease.
39Again they are diminished,
and very low brought down,
Through sorrow and affliction,
and great oppression.
40He upon princes pours contempt,
and causeth them to stray,
And wander in a wilderness,
wherein there is no way.
41Yet setteth he the poor on high
from all his miseries,
And he, much like unto a flock,
doth make him families.
42They that are righteous shall rejoice,
when they the same shall see;
And, as ashamed, stop her mouth
shall all iniquity.
43Whoso is wise, and will these things
observe, and them record,
Ev'n they shall understand the love
and kindness of the Lord.
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