The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 106
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 107 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; For his mercy endures forever.
Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι χρηστὸς, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.
"Confess unto the Lord that He is sweet, because for aye in His mercy". This confess ye that He is sweet: if you have tasted, confess. But he cannot confess, who has not chosen to taste, for whence shall he say that that is sweet, which he knows not. But ye if you have tasted how sweet the Lord is, [1 Peter 2:3]…
Let them say so who have been redeemed by the Lord, Whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Εἰπάτωσαν οἱ λελυτρωμένοι ὑπὸ Κυρίου, οὓς ἐλυτρώσατο ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθροῦ,
"Let them say who are redeemed of the Lord, whom He has redeemed from the hand of their enemies". Redeemed indeed it seems was also the people of Israel from the land of Egypt, from the hand of slavery, from fruitless labours, from miry works; yet let us see whether those who say these things, are they who were freed…
And gathered them out of the countries, From the east, and west, and north, and south.
καὶ ἐκ τῶν χωρῶν συνήγαγεν αὐτούς· ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν, καὶ δυσμῶν, καὶ βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ θαλάσσης.
Let them be expressed exactly who they are, for whom this Psalm would be sung. "He gathered them from the lands;" these might still be the lands of Egypt, for there are many lands even in one province. Let him speak openly. "From the east and the west, from the north and the sea" (ver. 3). Now then we understand these…
They wandered in the wilderness in a dry land; They found no way to a city of habitation.
Ἐπλανήθησαν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐν ἀνύδρῳ· ὁδὸν πόλεως κατοικητηρίου οὐχ εὗρον·
"They wandered in the wilderness, in a dry place, they found not the way of a city to dwell in". We have heard a wretched wandering; what of want? "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them". But wherefore did it faint? For what good? For God is not cruel, but He makes Himself known, in that it is expedient for…
Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
Πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες, ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐξέλιπε.
Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction, And he delivered them out of their distresses.
Καὶ ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς Κύριον ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀναγκῶν αὐτῶν ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτούς·
And therefore after this wandering, and hunger, and thirst, "And they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distress". And what did He for them, as they were wandering? "And He led them in the right way". They found not the way of a city to dwell in, with hunger and thirst they were…
And he guided them into a straight path, That they might go to a city of habitation.
Καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς εἰς ὁδὸν εὐθεῖαν, τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς πόλιν κατοικητηρίου.
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, And his wonderful works to the children of men.
Ἐξομολογησάσθωσαν τῷ Κυρίῳ τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
How He helped their hunger and thirst, He says not, but even this expect ye: "Let them confess unto the Lord His mercies, and His wonders towards the children of men". Tell them, you that are experienced, to the inexperienced; ye that are already in the way, already directed towards finding the city, already at last…
For he satisfies the empty soul, And fills the hungry soul with good things,
Ὅτι ἐχόρτασε ψυχὴν κενὴν, καὶ πεινῶσαν ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν.
Even them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, Fettered in poverty and iron;
Καθημένους ἐν σκότει καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου, πεπεδημένους ἐν πτωχείᾳ καὶ σιδήρῳ·
Because they rebelled against the words of God, And provoked the counsel of the Most High.
Ὅτι παρεπίκραναν τὰ λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ ὑψίστου παρώξυναν·
So their heart was brought low with troubles; They were weak, and there was no helper.
Καὶ ἐταπεινώθη ἐν κόποις ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν, ἠσθένησαν καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ βοηθῶν.
"And their heart was brought low in labour". And now fight against lust; if God cease to aid you may strive, you can not conquer. And when you shall be pressed by your evil, your heart will be brought low in labour, so that now with humbled heart you may learn to cry out, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver…
Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction, And he saved them out of their distresses.
Καὶ ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς Κύριον ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀναγκῶν αὐτῶν ἔσωσεν αὐτούς.
"And they cried unto the Lord when they were troubled, and He delivered them out of their distresses". They were freed from the second temptation. There remains that of weariness and loathing. But first see what He did for them when freed. "And He led them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds…
And he brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their bonds asunder.
Καὶ ἐξήγαγεν αὐτοὺς ἐκ σκότους καὶ σκιᾶς θανάτου, καὶ τοὺς δεσμοὺς αὐτῶν διέῤῥηξεν.
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, And his wonders to the children of men.
Ἐξομολογησάσθωσαν τῷ Κυρίῳ τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
"Let them confess to the Lord His mercies, and His wonders to the children of men". Wherefore? What difficulties has He overcome? "Because He broke the gates of brass, and snapped the bars of iron".
For he broke to pieces the brazen gates, And crushed the iron bars.
Ὅτι συνέτριψε πύλας χαλκᾶς, καὶ μοχλοὺς σιδηροὺς συνέθλασεν.
He helped them out of the way of their iniquity; For they were brought low because of their iniquities.
Ἀντελάβετο αὐτῶν ἐξ ὁδοῦ ἀνομίας αὐτῶν, διὰ γὰρ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν ἐταπεινώθησαν.
"He took them up from the way of their iniquity, for because of their unrighteousnesses they were brought low". Because they gave honour to themselves, not to God, because they were establishing their own righteousness, not knowing the righteousness of God, [Romans 10:3] they were brought low. They found that they…
Their soul abhorred all meat; And they drew near to the gates of death.
Πᾶν βρῶμα ἐβδελύξατο ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἤγγισαν ἕως τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ θανάτου.
"Their soul abhorred all manner of meat". Now they suffer satiety. They are sick of satiety. They are in danger from satiety. Unless perchance you think they could be killed with famine, but cannot with satiety. See what follows. When he had said, "Their soul abhorred all manner of meat," lest you should think them,…
Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction, And he saved them out of their distresses.
Καὶ ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς Κύριον ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀναγκῶν αὐτῶν ἔσωσεν αὐτούς.
He sent his word, and healed them, And delivered them out of their destructions.
Ἀπέστειλε τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἰάσατο αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν διαφθορῶν αὐτῶν.
"He sent His Word, and healed them". See what evil there is in satiety; see whence He delivers, to whom he cries that loathes his food. "He sent His Word, and healed them, and snatched them," from whence? Not from wandering, not from hunger, not from the difficulty of overcoming sins, but "from their corruption." It…
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, And his wonderful works to the children of men.
Ἐξομολογησάσθωσαν τῷ Κυρίῳ τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων·
Therefore also of this benefit, as of the others before, "Let them confess to the Lord His mercies, and His wonders unto the sons of men".
And let them offer to him the sacrifice of praise, And proclaim his works with exultation.
Καὶ θυσάτωσαν αὐτῷ θυσίαν αἰνέσεως, καὶ ἐξαγγειλάτωσαν τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει.
They that go down to the sea in ships, Doing business in many waters;
Οἱ καταβαίνοντες εἰς θάλασσαν ἐν πλοίοις, ποιοῦντες ἐργασίαν ἐν ὕδασι πολλοῖς,
..."They who go down on the sea in ships, doing their business on the mighty waters" (ver. 23); that is, amongst many peoples. For that waters are often put for peoples, the Apocalypse of John is witness, when on John's asking what those waters were, it was answered him, they are peoples. They then who do their…
These men have seen the works of the Lord, And his wonders in the deep.
αὐτοὶ εἶδον τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου, καὶ τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ βυθῷ.
They then who do their business on mighty waters, "they have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep". For what is deeper than human hearts? Hence often break forth winds; storms of sedition, and dissensions, disturb the ship. And what is done in them? God, willing that both they who steer, and they…
He speaks, and the stormy wind arises, And its waves are lifted up.
Εἶπε, καὶ ἔστη πνεῦμα καταιγίδος, καὶ ὑψώθη τὰ κύματα αὐτῆς.
They go up to the heavens, And go down to the depths; Their soul melts because of troubles.
Ἀναβαίνουσιν ἕως τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ καταβαίνουσιν ἕως τῶν ἀβύσσων· ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῶν ἐν κακοῖς ἐτήκετο,
"They go up even to the heavens," in daring; "They go down even into the deeps", in fearing. "Their soul wasted in miseries." "They were disturbed, and moved like a drunken man". They who sit at the helm, and they who faithfully love the ship, feel what I say. Certainly, when they speak, when they read, when they…
They are troubled, they stagger as a drunkard, And all their wisdom is swallowed up.
ἐταράχθησαν, ἐσαλεύθησαν ὡς ὁ μεθύων, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ σοφία αὐτῶν κατεπόθη.
Then they cry to the Lord in their affliction, And he brings them out of their distresses.
Καὶ ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς Κύριον ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀναγκῶν αὐτῶν ἐξήγαγεν αὐτούς.
"And they cried out unto the Lord when they were troubled, and He delivered them from their distresses" (ver. 28). "And He commanded the storm, and it stood unto clear air" (ver. 29), "and the waves of it were still." Hear on this point the voice of a steersman, one that was in peril, was brought low, was freed. "I…
And he commands the storm, and it is calmed into a gentle breeze, And its waves are still.
Καὶ ἐπέταξε τῇ καταιγίδι, καὶ ἔστη εἰς αὖραν, καὶ ἐσίγησαν τὰ κύματα αὐτῆς.
And they are glad, because they are quiet; And he guides them to their desired haven.
Καὶ εὐφράνθησαν, ὅτι ἡσύχασαν, καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ λιμένα θελήματος αὐτῶν.
"And they were glad, because they were still, and He brought them into the haven of their desire". "Let His mercies confess unto the Lord, and His wonders towards the sons of men". Everywhere, without exception, let not our merits, not our strength, not our wisdom, "confess unto the Lord," but, "His mercies." Let Him…
Let them acknowledge to the Lord his mercies, And his wonderful works to the children of men.
Ἐξομολογησάσθωσαν τῷ Κυρίῳ τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
Ὑψωσάτωσαν αὐτὸν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ λαοῦ, καὶ ἐν καθέδρᾳ πρεσβυτέρων αἰνεσάτωσαν αὐτόν.
"And let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the seat of the elders". Let them exalt, let them praise, peoples and elders, merchants and pilots. For what has He done in this assembly? What has He established? Whence has He rescued it? What has He granted it? Even as He resisted the proud,…
He turns rivers into a desert, And streams of water into a dry land;
Ἔθετο ποταμοὺς εἰς ἐρήμον, καὶ διεξόδους ὑδάτων εἰς δίψαν·
...What then did God, resisting the proud, but giving grace to the humble; cutting off the natural branches for their pride; grafting in the wild olive for its humility? "He made the rivers a wilderness" (ver. 33). Waters did run there, prophecies were in course. Seek now a prophet among the Jews; thou findest none.…
A fruitful land into saltness, For the wickedness of them that dwell in it.
Γῆν καρποφόρον εἰς ἅλμην, ἀπὸ κακίας τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν αὐτῇ.
"A fruitful land to be saltpools". You seek there the faith of Christ, you find not: you seek a prophet, you find not: you seek a sacrifice, you find not: you seek a temple, you find none. Wherefore this? "From the wickedness of them that dwell therein." Behold how He resists the proud: hear how He gives grace to the…
He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And a dry land into streams of water.
Ἔθετο ἔρημον εἰς λίμνας ὑδάτων, καὶ γῆν ἄνυδρον εἰς διεξόδους ὑδάτων.
"He made the wilderness to be a standing water, and the dry ground to be outgoings of waters".
And there he causes the hungry to dwell, And they establish for themselves cities of habitation.
Καὶ κατῴκισεν ἐκεῖ πεινῶντας, καὶ συνεστήσαντο πόλεις κατοικεσίας·
"He made the wilderness to be a standing water, and the dry ground to be outgoings of waters" (ver. 35). "And He caused the hungry to dwell there" (ver. 36). Because to Him it was said, "Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedec." For thou seekest a sacrifice among the Jews; thou hast none after the…
And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, And they yield fruit of increase.
Καὶ ἔσπειραν ἀγροὺς, καὶ ἐφύτευσαν ἀμπελῶνας, καὶ ἐποίησαν καρπὸν γεννήματος.
"And they sowed fields, and planted vineyards, and gat fruit of corn": at which that workman rejoiceth, who saith, "Not because I desire a gift, but I seek fruit." [Philippians 4:17]
And he blesses them, and they multiply exceedingly, And he diminishes not the number of their cattle.
Καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐπληθύνθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐσμίκρυνε.
"And He blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly, and their cattle were not diminished". This standeth. For "the foundation of God standeth sure; because the Lord knoweth them that are His." [2 Timothy 2:19] They are called "beasts of burden," and "cattle," that walk simply in the Church, yet are useful; not…
Again they become few, and are brought low, By the pressure of evils and pain.
Καὶ ὠλιγώθησαν καὶ ἐκακώθησαν ἀπὸ θλίψεως κακῶν καὶ ὀδύνης.
"And they became few, and were vexed". Whence this? From athwart? Nay, from within. For that they should "become few," "They went out from us, but they were not of us." [1 John 2:19] But therefore he speaketh as of these, of whom he spake before, that they may be discerned with understanding; because he speaketh as if…
Contempt is poured upon their princes, And he causes them to wander in a desert and trackless land.
Ἐξεχύθη ἐξουδένωσις ἐπʼ ἄρχοντας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπλάνησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἀβάτῳ καὶ οὐχ ὁδῷ.
"Contempt was poured on princes". For they were rejected by the Church of God, and the more because they wished to be princes, therefore they were despised, and became salt that had lost its savour, cast out abroad, so that it is trodden under foot of men. [Matthew 5:13] "And He led them astray in the pathless place,…
But he helps the poor out of poverty, And makes him families as a flock.
Καὶ ἐβοήθησε πένητι ἐκ πτωχείας, καὶ ἔθετο ὡς πρόβατα πατριάς·
"And He helped the poor out of beggary". What means this, brethren? Princes are despised, and the poor helped. The proud are cast aside, and the humble provided for...."And made him households like sheep." Thou understandest one poor man and one beggar of him concerning whom he said, "He has helped the poor out of…
The upright shall see and rejoice; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
Ὄψονται εὐθεῖς καὶ εὐφρανθήσονται, καὶ πᾶσα ἀνομία ἐμφράξει τὸ στόμα αὐτῆς.
Therefore, "the righteous will consider this, and rejoice: and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped". That wickedness that does prate against unity, and compels truth to be made manifest, shall be convicted, and have its mouth stopped.
Who is wise, and will observe these things, And understand the mercies of the Lord?
Τίς σοφὸς καὶ φυλάξει ταῦτα, καὶ συνήσει τὰ ἐλέη τοῦ Κυρίου;
"Who is wise? and he will consider these things; and will understand the mercies of the Lord". ...Not his own deservings, not his own strength, not his own power; but "the mercies of the Lord;" who, when he was wandering and in want, led him back to the path, and fed him; who, when he was struggling against the…
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