Psalms 124
A thanksgiving psalm for deliverance from overwhelming enemies.
Psalm 124 opens with a repeated conditional, "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side," as Israel reflects on how close they came to being swallowed up or overwhelmed by rising waters. The chapter's rescue theme echoes Romans 8:31's question of who can stand against a people God defends.
If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, let Israel now say,
if it had not been Jehovah who was on our side when men rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us,
then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul,
then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.
Blessed be Jehovah, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of Jehovah, who made heaven and earth.