34. He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands,because of the wickedness of those who live there.
35. But he also turns deserts into pools of water,the dry land into springs of water.
36. He brings the hungry to settle thereand to build their cities.
37. They sow their fields, plant their vineyards,and harvest their bumper crops.
38. How he blesses them!They raise large families there,and their herds of livestock increase.
39. When they decrease in number and become impoverishedthrough oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
40. the lord pours contempt on their princes,causing them to wander in trackless wastelands.
41. But he rescues the poor from troubleand increases their families like flocks of sheep.
42. The godly will see these things and be glad,while the wicked are struck silent.
43. Those who are wise will take all this to heart;they will see in our history the faithful love of the lord.