Psalm 107: Let the Redeemed Say So

"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; and gathered them 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 solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them… Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness."

"Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God… Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble… For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools because of their transgression… draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD… He sent his word, and healed them."

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind… They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths… They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble… He maketh the storm a calm… so he bringeth them unto their desired haven."

"He turneth rivers into a wilderness… a fruitful land into barrenness… He turneth the wilderness into a standing water… He poureth contempt upon princes… Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction… Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD."

Four panels and two refrains

Each panel has the same shape: a situation of distress; "Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses" (vv. 6, 13, 19, 28); the rescue; and "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31). The final section (vv. 33–43) leaves the refrains behind and becomes wisdom teaching.

Sailors on the great waters

Israel was not a seafaring people, but Phoenician and later Israelite merchants sailed the Mediterranean and Red Sea (1 Kings 9:26–28; Jonah 1). The storm scene, with sailors reeling like drunkards, recalls Jonah 1 and is echoed in the Gospel stilling of the storm (Mark 4:39–41).

Gathered from the lands

Verses 2–3 speak of the redeemed gathered "from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the sea" (the Hebrew has yam, "sea," where KJV has "south"). The opening answers the last prayer of Book IV, "gather us from among the heathen" (106:47). Psalm 107 has no heading; the Greek and Latin give it "Alleluia."

Inverted nuns

In many Masoretic manuscripts, verses 23–28 (or 21–26) are marked with inverted letter nun, a scribal sign found also around Numbers 10:35–36, perhaps marking a passage out of place or set apart. The library's digital Hebrew does not show these marks; they are documented in manuscripts and printed editions (C check).

Wisdom and Job

Verse 40, "He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way," repeats Job 12:21, 24. The closing call to the wise (v. 43) is echoed in Hosea 14:9.