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O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
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Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
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And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
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They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
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Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
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Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he delivered them out of their distresses.
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And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
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Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
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For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
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Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, [being] bound in affliction and iron;
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Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
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Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and [there was] none to help.
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Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses.
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He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
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Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
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For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
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Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
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Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
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Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saveth them out of their distresses.
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He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered [them] from their destructions.
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Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
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And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
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They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
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These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
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For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
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They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
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They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
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Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
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He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
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Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
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Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
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Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
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He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
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A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
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He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
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And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
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And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
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He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
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Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
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He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.
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Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh [him] families like a flock.
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The righteous shall see [it], and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
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Whoso [is] wise, and will observe these [things], even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Chapter explanations