32. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the peopleand praise him in the council of the elders.
33. He turned rivers into a desert,flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34. and fruitful land into a salt waste,because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35. He turned the desert into pools of waterand the parched ground into flowing springs;
36. there he brought the hungry to live,and they founded a city where they could settle.
37. They sowed fields and planted vineyardsthat yielded a fruitful harvest;
38. he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,and he did not let their herds diminish.
39. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbledby oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40. he who pours contempt on noblesmade them wander in a trackless waste.
41. But he lifted the needy out of their afflictionand increased their families like flocks.
42. The upright see and rejoice,but all the wicked shut their mouths.