33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
33 He turneth H7760 rivers H5104 into a wilderness, H4057 and the watersprings H4325 H4161 into dry ground; H6774
34 A fruitful H6529 land H776 into barrenness, H4420 for the wickedness H7451 of them that dwell H3427 therein.
35 He turneth H7760 the wilderness H4057 into a standing H98 water, H4325 and dry H6723 ground H776 into watersprings. H4325 H4161
36 And there he maketh the hungry H7457 to dwell, H3427 that they may prepare H3559 a city H5892 for habitation; H4186
37 And sow H2232 the fields, H7704 and plant H5193 vineyards, H3754 which may yield H6213 fruits H6529 of increase. H8393
38 He blesseth H1288 them also, so that they are multiplied H7235 greatly; H3966 and suffereth H4591 not their cattle H929 to decrease. H4591
39 Again, they are minished H4591 and brought low H7817 through oppression, H6115 affliction, H7451 and sorrow. H3015
40 He poureth H8210 contempt H937 upon princes, H5081 and causeth them to wander H8582 in the wilderness, H8414 where there is no way. H1870
41 Yet setteth he the poor H34 on high H7682 from affliction, H6040 and maketh H7760 him families H4940 like a flock. H6629
42 The righteous H3477 shall see H7200 it, and rejoice: H8055 and all iniquity H5766 shall stop H7092 her mouth. H6310
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;
34 A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, That they may prepare a city of habitation,
37 And sow fields, and plant vineyards, And get them fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the waste, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, And maketh `him' families like a flock.
42 The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
33 He maketh rivers become a wilderness, And fountains of waters become dry land.
34 A fruitful land becometh a barren place, For the wickedness of its inhabitants.
35 He maketh a wilderness become a pool of water, And a dry land become fountains of waters.
36 And He causeth the hungry to dwell there, And they prepare a city of habitation.
37 And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, And they make fruits of increase.
38 And He blesseth them, and they multiply exceedingly, And their cattle He doth not diminish.
39 And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and sorrow.
40 He is pouring contempt upon nobles, And causeth them to wander in vacancy -- no way.
41 And setteth on high the needy from affliction, And placeth families as a flock.
42 The upright do see and rejoice, And all perversity hath shut her mouth.
33 He maketh rivers into a wilderness, and water-springs into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into a plain of salt, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He maketh the wilderness into a pool of water, and the dry land into water-springs;
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, and they establish a city of habitation;
37 And sow fields, and plant vineyards, which yield fruits of increase;
38 And he blesseth them, so that they are multiplied greatly; and he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 And they are diminished and brought low, through oppression, adversity, and sorrow:
40 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste;
41 But he secureth the needy one on high from affliction, and maketh [him] families like flocks.
42 The upright shall see it, and rejoice; and all unrighteousness shall stop its mouth.
33 He turns rivers into a desert, Water springs into a thirsty ground,
34 And a fruitful land into a salt waste, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a desert into a pool of water, And a dry land into water springs.
36 There he makes the hungry live, That they may prepare a city to live in,
37 Sow fields, plant vineyards, And reap the fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn't allow their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
41 Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, And increases their families like a flock.
42 The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
33 He makes rivers into waste places, and springs of water into a dry land;
34 He makes a fertile country into a salt waste, because of the sins of those who are living there.
35 He makes a waste land into a place of water, and a dry land into water-springs.
36 And there he gives the poor a resting-place, so that they may make themselves a town;
37 And put seed in the fields and make vine-gardens, to give them fruit.
38 He gives them his blessing so that they are increased greatly, and their cattle do not become less.
39 And when they are made low, and crushed by trouble and sorrow,
40 He puts an end to the pride of kings, and sends them wandering in the waste lands where there is no way.
41 But he puts the poor man on high from his troubles, and gives him families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad: the mouth of the sinner is stopped.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 107
Commentary on Psalms 107 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 107
Ps 107:1-43. Although the general theme of this Psalm may have been suggested by God's special favor to the Israelites in their restoration from captivity, it must be regarded as an instructive celebration of God's praise for His merciful providence to all men in their various emergencies. Of these several are given—captivity and bondage, wanderings by land and sea, and famine; some as evidences of God's displeasure, and all the deliverances as evidence of His goodness and mercy to them who humbly seek Him.
1, 2. This call for thankful praise is the burden or chorus (compare Ps 107:8, 15, &c.).
2. redeemed of the Lord—(compare Isa 35:9, 10).
say—that is, that His mercy, &c.
hand of—or, "power of enemy."
3. gathered—alluding to the dispersion of captives throughout the Babylonian empire.
from the south—literally, "the sea," or, Red Sea (Ps 114:3), which was on the south.
4-7. A graphic picture is given of the sufferings of those who from distant lands returned to Jerusalem; or,
city of habitation—may mean the land of Palestine.
5. fainted—was overwhelmed (Ps 61:3; 77:3).
8, 9. To the chorus is added, as a reason for praise, an example of the extreme distress from which they had been delivered—extreme hunger, the severest privation of a journey in the desert.
10-16. Their sufferings were for their rebellion against (Ps 105:28) the words, or purposes, or promises, of God for their benefit. When humbled they cry to God, who delivers them from bondage, described as a dark dungeon with doors and bars of metal, in which they are bound in iron—that is, chains and fetters.
shadow of death—darkness with danger (Ps 23:4).
16. broken—literally, "shivered" (Isa 45:2).
17-22. Whether the same or not, this exigency illustrates that dispensation of God according to which sin brings its own punishment.
are afflicted—literally, "afflict themselves," that is, bring on disease, denoted by loathing of food, and drawing
18. near unto—literally, "even to"
gates—or, "domains" (Ps 9:13).
20. sent his word—that is, put forth His power.
their destructions—that is, that which threatened them. To the chorus is added the mode of giving thanks, by a sacrifice and joyful singing (Ps 50:14).
23-32. Here are set forth the perils of seafaring, futility of man's, and efficiency of God's, help.
go … sea—alluding to the elevation of the land at the coast.
24. These see … deep—illustrated both by the storm He raises and the calm He makes with a word (Ps 33:9).
25. waves thereof—literally, "His waves" (God's, Ps 42:7).
27. are … end—literally, "all their wisdom swallows up itself," destroys itself by vain and contradictory devices, such as despair induces.
29-32. He maketh … calm—or, "to stand to stillness," or "in quiet." Instead of acts of temple-worship, those of the synagogue are here described, where the people with the
assembly—or session of elders, convened for reading, singing, prayer, and teaching.
33-41. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, &c.—God's providence is illustriously displayed in His influence on two great elements of human prosperity, the earth's productiveness and the powers of government. He punishes the wicked by destroying the sources of fertility, or, in mercy, gives fruitfulness to deserts, which become the homes of a busy and successful agricultural population. By a permitted misrule and tyranny, this scene of prosperity is changed to one of adversity. He rules rulers, setting up one and putting down another.
40. wander … wilderness—reduced to misery (Job 12:24).
42, 43. In this providential government, good men will rejoice, and the cavils of the wicked will be stopped (Job 5:16; Isa 52:15), and all who take right views will appreciate God's unfailing mercy and unbounded love.