Psalm 124

The Lord Is on Our Side

A Davidic song of ascents.

If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
If the Lord had not been on our side(A)
when men attacked us,(B)
then they would have swallowed us alive
in their burning anger against us.(C)
Then the waters would have engulfed us;
the torrent would have swept over us;
the raging waters would have swept over us.(D)

Praise the Lord,
who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.(E)
We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net;
the net is torn, and we have escaped.(F)
Our help is in the name of Yahweh,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(G)

Psalm 124

A pilgrimage song. Of David.

124 If the Lord hadn’t been for us—
    let Israel now repeat!—
    if the Lord hadn’t been for us,
        when those people attacked us
then they would have swallowed us up whole
        with their rage burning against us!
Then the waters would have drowned us;
    the torrent would have come over our necks;[a]
    then the raging waters would have come over our necks!

Bless the Lord
    because he didn’t hand us over
    like food for our enemies’ teeth!
We escaped like a bird from the hunters’ trap;
    the trap was broken so we escaped!

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    the maker of heaven and earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 124:4 Or soul; also in 124:5, 7