Psalms 107:35-43

35 He hath set desert into ponds of waters; and [the] earth without water into [the] outgoings of waters. (He hath turned the desert into pools of water; yea, the place without water into springs of water.)

36 And he set there hungry men; and they made a city of dwelling. (And he put the hungry there; and they made a city to live in.)

37 And they sowed fields, and planted vines; and made fruit of birth. (And they sowed fields, and planted vines; and reaped a fruitful harvest.)

38 And he blessed them, and they were multiplied greatly (And he blessed them, and they were greatly multiplied); and he made not less their work beasts.

39 And they were made few; and were travailed of tribulation of evils and of sorrow. (And then, they were made few; and were troubled with trials, and evils, and sorrow.)

40 Strife was shed out on princes; and he made them for to err without the way, and not in the way. (And he poured out his contempt upon their enemies? leaders; and he made them to wander without a way, and to go not on the way.)

41 And he helped the poor man from poverty; and setted families as a sheep bringing forth lambs. (But he helped the poor out of their poverty; and made families to be like sheep bringing forth lambs.)

42 Rightful men shall see, and shall be glad; and all wickedness shall stop his mouth. (The upright shall see, and shall be glad; and all the wicked shall close their mouths.)

43 Who is wise, and shall keep these things; and shall understand the mercies of the Lord? (Whoever is wise, shall think about these things; and then they shall understand the Lord's constant love.)

Psalms 107:35-43 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 107

This psalm, from its style, and from its connection with the preceding psalms, seems to have been written by David. The two foregoing psalms respect the children of Israel; this is generally thought to concern all mankind, and its view to assert a general providence which attends all, in whatsoever condition and circumstance; and to encourage men in their distresses to cry unto the Lord. According to Kimchi, Aben Ezra, and others, four sorts of persons are mentioned, travellers through a wilderness, prisoners, sick persons, and such who use the seas; to which some add a fifth, husbandmen; these are instanced in, not to the exclusion of others, but from them it may be concluded that whatsoever state or condition persons may be in, they are known and taken notice of by the Lord, and are relieved by him when they call upon him. Some restrain the whole to the Israelites, as the Targum, R. Obadiah, Arama, and others, where they make any application; and others apply the psalm to New Testament times; and indeed, though the literal sense should be attended unto and preserved, yet it seems to be applicable to spiritual persons and things. The title of it in the Syriac version is pretty remarkable,

``it is said concerning Joab and Abiah the sons of Samuel, who recited the commandments of the Lord. God gathered the Jews out of captivity, and brought them out from Babylon. Also the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, gathered the Gentiles from the four corners of the world, by preaching to baptism.''