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 Ascents. By David. If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,
2if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us,
4then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul.
5Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.
6Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8Our help is in Yahweh’s name, who made heaven and earth.