1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
and his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

2Let the redeemed of Yahweh speak out,
those he has rescued from the hand of the enemy.

3He has gathered them out of foreign lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4They wandered in the wilderness on a desert road
and found no city in which to live.

5Because they were hungry and thirsty,
they fainted from exhaustion.

6Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he rescued them out of their distress.

7He led them by a direct path
so that they would go to a city to live in.

8Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness
and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

9For he satisfies the longings of those who are thirsty,
and the desires of those who are hungry he fills up with good things.

10Some sat in darkness and in gloom,
prisoners in affliction and chains.

11This was because they had rebelled against God's word
and rejected the instruction of the Most High.

12He humbled their hearts through hardship;
they stumbled and there was no one to help them up.

13Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.

14He brought them out of darkness and gloom
and broke their bonds.

15Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness
and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

16For he has broken the gates of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron.

17They were foolish in their rebellious ways
and afflicted because of their sins.

18They lost their desire to eat any food,
and they came close to the gates of death.

19Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.

20He sent his word and healed them,
and he rescued them from their destruction.

21Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness
and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

22Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving
and proclaim his deeds in singing.

23Some travel on the sea in ships
and do business overseas.

24These saw the deeds of Yahweh
and his wonders on the seas.

25For he commanded and aroused the windstorm
that stirs up the seas.

26They reached up to the sky; they went down to the depths.
Their lives melted away in distress.

27They swayed and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits' end.

28Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.

29He calmed the storm,
and the waves were stilled.

30Then they rejoiced because the sea was calm,
and he brought them to their desired harbor.

31Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness
and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.

33He turns rivers into a wilderness,
springs of water into dry land,

34and a fruitful land into a barren place
because of the wickedness of its people.

35He turns the wilderness into a pool of water
and dry land into springs of water.

36He settles the hungry there,
and they build a city to live in.

37They build a city to plant fields in, to plant vineyards,
and to bring in an abundant harvest.

38He blesses them so they are very numerous.
He does not let their cattle decrease in number.

39They were diminished and brought low
by painful distress and suffering.

40He pours contempt on the leaders
and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there are no roads.

41But he protects the needy from affliction
and cares for his families like a flock.

42The upright will see this and rejoice,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43Whoever is wise should take note of these things
and meditate on Yahweh's acts of covenant faithfulness.