The chat will start when you send the first message.
1Let everyone give all their praise and thanks to the Lord!
Here’s why—he’s better than anyone could ever imagine.
Yes, he’s always loving and kind, and his faithful love never ends.
2-3So, go ahead—let everyone know it!
Tell the world how he broke through
and delivered you from the power of darkness and
has gathered us together from all over the world.
He has set us free to be his very own!
4Some of us once wandered in the wilderness like desert nomads,
with no true direction or dwelling place.
5Starving, thirsting, staggering,
we became desperate and filled with despair.
6Then we cried out, “Lord, help us! Rescue us!” And he did!
7He led us out by the right way
until we reached a suitable city to dwell in.
8So lift your hands and thank God for his marvelous kindness
and for all his miracles of mercy for those he loves.
9How he satisfies the souls of thirsty ones
and fills the hungry with goodness!
10Some of us once sat in darkness,
living in the dark shadows of death.
We were prisoners to our pain, chained to our regrets.
11For we rebelled against God’s Word
and rejected the wise counsel of God Most High.
12So he humbled us through our circumstances,
watching us as we stumbled, with no one there to pick us back up.
Our own pain became our punishment.
13Then we cried out, “Lord, help us! Rescue us!” And he did!
14His light broke through the darkness and
he led us out in freedom from death’s dark shadow
and snapped every one of our chains.
15So lift your hands and give thanks to God for his marvelous kindness
and for his miracles of mercy for those he loves!
16For he smashed through heavy prison doors and
shattered the steel bars that held us back, just to set us free!
17Some of us were such fools, bringing on ourselves
sorrow and suffering all because of our sins.
18Sick and feeble, unable to stand the sight of food,
we drew near to the gates of death.
19Then we cried out, “Lord, help us! Rescue us!” And he did!
20God spoke the words “Be healed,” and we were healed,
delivered from death’s door!
21So lift your hands and give thanks to God for his marvelous kindness
and for his miracles of mercy for those he loves!
22Bring your praise as an offering and your thanks as a sacrifice
as you sing your story of miracles with a joyful song.
23Some of us set sail upon the sea to faraway ports,
transporting our goods from ship to shore.
24We were witnesses of God’s power out in the ocean deep;
we saw breathtaking wonders upon the high seas.
25When God spoke he stirred up a storm,
lifting high the waves with hurricane winds.
26-27Ships were tossed by the swelling sea, rising to the sky,
then dropping down to the depths,
reeling like drunkards, spinning like tops,
everyone at their wits’ end until even sailors despaired of life, cringing in terror.
28Then we cried out, “Lord, help us! Rescue us!” And he did!
29God stilled the storm, calmed the waves,
and he hushed the hurricane winds to only a whisper.
30We were so relieved, so glad as he guided us
safely to harbor in a quiet haven.
31So lift your hands and give thanks to God for his marvelous kindness
and for his miracles of mercy for those he loves!
32Let’s exalt him on high and lift up our praises in public;
let all the people and the leaders of the nation know
how great and wonderful is Yahweh , our God!
33Whenever he chooses he can dry up a river
and turn the land into a desert.
34Or he can take a fruitful land and make it into a saltwater swamp,
all because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.
35But he also can turn a barren wilderness into an oasis with water!
He can make springs flow into desert lands
36and turn them into fertile valleys so that cities spring up,
and he gives it all to those who are hungry.
37They can plant their fields and vineyards there
and reap a bumper crop and gather a fruitful harvest.
38God will bless them and cause them to multiply and prosper.
39But others will become poor,
humbled because of their oppression, tyranny, and sorrows.
40For God pours contempt upon their arrogant abuse of power,
heaping scorn upon their princes,
and makes them wander among ruins.
41But he raises up the poor and lowly with his favor,
giving them a safe place to live where no one can touch them.
God will grant them a large family and bless them!
42The lovers of God will rejoice when they see this.
Good men are glad when the evil ones are silenced.
43If you are truly wise, you’ll learn from what I’ve told you.
It’s time for you to consider these profound lessons
of God’s great love and mercy!