Psalms 124

1 “A song of the degrees by David.” If it had not been the Lord who was for us, so should Israel say;

A song for pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. If the Lord hadn't been for us, what would have happened? Let everyone in Israel say:

2 If it had not been the Lord who was for us, when men rose up against us:

If the Lord hadn't been for us, what would have happened when people came and attacked us?

3 Then would they have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;

They would have swallowed us alive when their anger raged against us.

4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us, the stream would have passed over our soul;

Like a flood they would have swept over us; like a rushing torrent they would have submerged us.

5 Then would have passed over our soul the presumptuous waters.

They would have rushed over us like raging waters, drowning us.

6 Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us up as a prey to their teeth.

Praise the Lord, who didn't hand us over to them as prey to be ripped apart by their teeth.

7 Our soul is escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

We escaped from them like a bird flying out of a hunter's trap. The trap was broken and we flew away!

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

Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.