Old Testament
Psalms 124
Overview
A communal thanksgiving in which Israel looks back at a deadly crisis and confesses, "If the LORD had not been on our side," they would have been swallowed alive and swept away by the flood. Through vivid images of devouring enemies, raging waters, and a snapping snare, the psalm bursts into praise: the trap is broken, the bird has escaped, because help is in the name of the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth.
1A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
2If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.