TRV
Translation
King James Version
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Complete Jewish Bible
they reeled and staggered like drunk men, and all their skill was swallowed up.
Berean Standard Bible
They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and all their skill was useless.
American Standard Version
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.
World English Bible Messianic
They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Geneva Bible (1599)
They are tossed to and from, and stagger like a drunken man, and all their cunning is gone.
Young's Literal Translation
They reel to and fro, and move as a drunkard, And all their wisdom is swallowed up.
In the KJVVerse 15,727 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 107 verses 23–32
23 ¶ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
The psalmist here calls upon those to give glory to God who are delivered from dangers at sea. Though the Israelites dealt not much in merchandise, yet their neighbours the Tyrians and Zidonians did, and for them perhaps this part of the psalm was especially calculated.
I. Much of the power of God appears at all times in the sea, Psa 107:23, Psa 107:24. It appears to those that go down to the sea in ships, as mariners, merchants, fishermen, or passengers, that do business in great waters. And surely none will expose themselves there but those that have business (among all Solomon's pleasant things we do not read of any pleasure-boat he had), but those that go on business, lawful business, may, in faith, put themselves under the divine protection. These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders, which are the more surprising, because most are born and bred upon land, and what passes at sea is new to them. The deep itself is a wonder, its vastness, its saltness, its ebbing and flowing. The great variety of living creatures in the sea is wonderful. Let those that go to sea be led, by all the wonders they observe there, to consider and adore the infinite perfections of that God whose the sea is, for he made it and manages it.
II. It especially appears in storms at sea, which are much more terrible than at land. Observe here, 1. How dangerous and dreadful a tempest at sea is. Then wonders begin to appear in the deep, when God commands and raises the strong wind, which fulfils his word, Psa 148:8. He raises the winds, as a prince by his commission raises forces. Satan pretends to be the prince of the power of the air; but he is a pretender; the powers of the air are at God's command, not at his. When the wind becomes stormy it lifts up the waves of the sea, Psa 107:25. Then the ships are kicked like tennis-balls on the tops of the waves; they seem to mount up to the heavens, and then they couch again, as if they would go down to the depths, Psa 107:26. A stranger, who had never seen it, would not think it possible for a ship to live at sea, as it will in a storm, and ride it out, but would expect that the next wave would bury it and it would never come up again; and yet God, who taught man discretion to make ships that should so strangely keep above water, does by his special providence preserve them, that they answer the end to admiration. When the ships are thus tossed the soul of the seaman melts because of trouble; and, when the storm is very high, even those that are used to the sea can neither shake off nor dissemble their fears, but they reel to and fro, and tossing makes them giddy, and they stagger and are sick, it may be, like a drunken man; the whole ship's crew are in confusion and quite at their wits' end (Psa 107:27), not knowing what to do more for their preservation; all their wisdom is swallowed up, and they are ready to give up themselves for gone, Jon 1:5, etc. 2. How seasonable it is at such a time to pray. Those that go to sea must expect such perils as are here described, and the best preparation they can make for them is to make sure a liberty of access to God by prayer, for then they will cry unto the Lord, Psa 107:28. We have a saying, "Let those that would learn to pray go to sea;" I say, Let those that will go to sea learn to pray, and accustom themselves to pray, that they may come with the more boldness to the throne of grace when they are in trouble. Even heathen mariners, in a storm, cried every man to his god; but those that have the Lord for their God have a present and powerful help in that and every other time of need, so that when they are at their wits' end they are not at their faith's end. 3. How wonderfully God sometimes appears for those that are in distress at sea, in answer to their prayers: He brings them out of the danger; and, (1.) The sea is still: He makes the storm a calm, Psa 107:29. The winds fall, and only by their soft and gentle murmurs serve to lull the waves asleep again, so that the surface of the sea becomes smooth and smiling. By this Christ proved himself to be more than a man that even the winds and the seas obeyed him. (2.) The seamen are made easy: They are glad because they are quiet, quiet from the noise, quiet from the fear of evil. Quietness after a storm is a very desirable thing, and sensibly pleasant. (3.) The voyage becomes prosperous and successful: So he brings them to their desired haven, Psa 107:30. Thus he carries his people safely through all the storms and tempests that they meet with in their voyage heaven-ward, and lands them, at length, in the desired harbour. 4. How justly it is expected that all those who have had a safe passage over the sea, and especially who have been delivered from remarkable perils at sea, should acknowledge it with thankfulness, to the glory of God. Let them do it privately in their closets and families. Let them praise the Lord for his goodness to themselves and others, Psa 107:31. Let them do it publicly (Psa 107:32), in the congregation of the people and in the assembly of the elders; there let them erect the memorials of their deliverance, to the honour of God, and for the encouragement of others to trust him.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 23–32. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 107
..."They who go down on the sea in ships, doing their business on the mighty waters" [Psalm 107:23]; that is, among 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 business on mighty waters, "they have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep" [Psalm 107:24]. 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 who are conveyed, should cry unto Him, "He spoke, and the breath of the storm stood" [Psalm 107:25]. What is, stood? Abode, continued, still disturbs, long tosses; rages, and passes not away. "For He spoke, and the breath of the storm stood." And what did that breath of the storm? "They go up even to the heavens," in daring; "They go down even into the deeps" [Psalm 107:26], in fearing. "Their soul wasted in miseries." "They were disturbed, and moved like a drunken man" [Psalm 107:27]. 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 interpret, they appear wise. Woe for the storm! "and all their wisdom," he says, "was swallowed up." Sometimes all human counsels fail; whichever way one turns himself, the waves roar, the storm rages, the arms are powerless: where the prow may strike, to what wave the side may be exposed, whither the stricken ship may be allowed to drift, from what rocks she must be kept back lest she be lost, is impossible for her pilots to see. And what is left but that which follows? "And they cried out unto the Lord when they were troubled, and He delivered them from their distresses" [Psalm 107:28]. "And He commanded the storm, and it stood unto clear air" [Psalm 107:29], "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 would not," he says, have you ignorant, brethren, of our distress, which befell us in Asia, that "we were pressed above strength, and above measure" (I see all his "wisdom swallowed up"), "so that we were weary," he says, "even of life." [2 Corinthians 1:8] ...
"And they were glad, because they were still, and He brought them into the haven of their desire" [Psalm 107:30]. "Let His mercies confess unto the Lord, and His wonders towards the sons of men" [Psalm 107:31]. Everywhere, without exception, let not our merits, not our strength, not our wisdom, "confess unto the Lord," but, "His mercies." Let Him be loved in every deliverance of ours, who has been invoked in every distress.
Desert FathersAD 500
The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
[Syncletica] also said, ‘We have no security in this world. The Apostle said, “Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). We are sailing on uncharted seas, as the psalmist David said, “Our life is like a sea.” Yet some seas have dangerous reefs, some are full of sharks, some seas are calm. It seems as if we are sailing in calm waters, while men of the world are sailing in rough weather. We are sailing in daylight, led by the sun of righteousness, while they are being driven along in the night of ignorance. Yet it often happens that worldly men, sailing in darkness and through storms, are so afraid of danger that they save the ship by calling upon God and by watchfulness, while we, in our calm waters, become careless, leave the proper course of righteousness, and are sunk.’
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 107:27 powerfully depicts the extreme distress of mariners caught in a violent sea storm, portraying them as utterly disoriented and helpless. The King James Version states, "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end." This verse serves as a poignant and universal metaphor for human vulnerability and desperation when confronted with overwhelming forces, illustrating a critical juncture where all human solutions and wisdom have utterly failed.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 107:27 is profoundly rich in literary devices that amplify its powerful message of human helplessness and divine sovereignty. The most prominent is Simile, explicitly stated in "stagger like a drunken man," which vividly conveys the mariners' physical disorientation, loss of control, and inability to maintain balance. This comparison is highly effective because it draws on a common human experience of instability and impaired judgment. Imagery is central to the verse, painting a visceral picture of the ship's violent pitching and the sailors' desperate, uncontrolled movements, appealing strongly to the reader's visual and kinesthetic senses. The phrase "at their wits' end" functions as a powerful Idiom, a common expression whose meaning ("completely desperate and unable to find a solution") is not directly deducible from the individual words, here signifying complete intellectual and practical helplessness. Furthermore, the entire verse serves as a potent Metaphor for any overwhelming life crisis that strips individuals of their self-reliance and drives them to the brink of despair. The progression from physical chaos to mental and intellectual collapse creates a powerful sense of escalating desperation, leading to the turning point of crying out to God.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 107:27 profoundly speaks to the human condition, revealing our inherent limitations and the ultimate futility of self-reliance in the face of overwhelming forces. It underscores a fundamental theological truth: humanity's wisdom and strength are finite, and there are circumstances where only divine intervention can suffice. This verse serves as a powerful preamble to the act of crying out to God, highlighting that often, our deepest moments of desperation are precisely when we become most receptive to His grace and power. It is in the "swallowing up" of our own wisdom—our plans, our strength, our control—that space is created for God's transcendent wisdom and delivering power to manifest. This is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, where God often allows circumstances to strip away our self-sufficiency so that we might fully depend on Him.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 107:27 resonates deeply with human experience beyond the literal sea storm. We all encounter "storms" in life—financial crises, health challenges, relational breakdowns, periods of intense anxiety, spiritual dryness, or profound grief—that can leave us feeling just as disoriented and helpless as the mariners. This verse offers profound validation: it is normal and human to feel overwhelmed, to reach a point where our own strength, intellect, or resources are simply insufficient. The feeling of being "at our wits' end" is a universal human experience, a testament to our creaturely limitations. Yet, this very vulnerability is not a sign of failure but an invitation. These moments of extreme distress are often precisely when we are most open to seeking a higher power, when our "wisdom is swallowed up," creating the necessary space for God's wisdom and intervention. The psalm's progression from utter despair (verse 27) to crying out to God (verse 28) and experiencing miraculous deliverance (verse 29) provides a powerful and hopeful pattern for navigating our own storms, encouraging us to turn to God in prayer and desperate reliance when we feel lost and without hope. It reminds us that true strength is found not in self-sufficiency, but in humble dependence on the One who controls the winds and the waves.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse suggest that God causes suffering to make us cry out to Him?
Answer: The broader context of Psalms 107 indicates that God is indeed sovereign over natural phenomena, including storms Psalms 107:25. While the psalm states He "raises the stormy wind," the primary emphasis is not on God causing suffering for its own sake, but on His redemptive response to human distress and the transformative potential of such crises. The storms, whether natural occurrences or divinely orchestrated instruments, serve to reveal human limitations and to drive people to seek God. The psalm highlights God's profound compassion and His readiness to deliver those who cry out to Him in their trouble (Psalms 107:28). Thus, the suffering is presented not as a punitive act, but as a catalyst for a deeper reliance on God, an opportunity to humble oneself, and a means through which to witness His delivering power and faithfulness, leading to a renewed sense of praise and gratitude.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 107:27 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who perfectly embodies God's sovereignty over creation and His compassionate response to human helplessness. The mariners' desperate state, "at their wits' end," foreshadows humanity's spiritual condition, lost in the raging storms of sin and unable to save themselves through their own wisdom or strength. Just as the psalmist depicts God calming the raging sea (Psalms 107:29), the New Testament powerfully portrays Jesus demonstrating this very authority when He rebukes the wind and the waves, bringing about a great calm and astonishing His disciples (Mark 4:39). This miracle not only reveals His divine power but also His profound empathy for those in distress, including His disciples who were themselves "at their wits' end" in the boat. Furthermore, Jesus is the ultimate "wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24), and where human wisdom is "swallowed up" by sin, despair, and the futility of self-salvation, He offers true understanding, redemption, and eternal life. He is the one to whom we cry out in our spiritual storms, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), delivering us from a predicament far more perilous than any physical tempest. In Christ, our helplessness is met with divine omnipotence and grace, leading to eternal deliverance, profound peace, and a sure hope that anchors us through every storm of life (Hebrews 6:19).