1 <A Song of the going up. Of David.> If it had not been the Lord who was on our side (let Israel now say);
2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men came up against us;
3 They would have made a meal of us while still living, in the heat of their wrath against us:
4 We would have been covered by the waters; the streams would have gone over our soul;
5 Yes, the waters of pride would have gone over our soul.
6 Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be wounded by their teeth.
7 Our soul has gone free like a bird out of the net of those who would take her: the net is broken, and we are free.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
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Commentary on Psalms 124 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 124
Ps 124:1-8. The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.
1, 2. on our side—for us (Ps 56:9).
now—or, "oh! let Israel"
2. rose … against, &c.—(Ps 3:1; 56:11).
3. Then—that is, the time of our danger.
quick—literally, "living" (Nu 16:32, 33), description of ferocity.
4, 5. (Compare Ps 18:4, 16).
5. The epithet proud added to waters denotes insolent enemies.
6, 7. The figure is changed to that of a rapacious wild beast (Ps 3:7), and then of a fowler (Ps 91:3), and complete escape is denoted by breaking the net.
8. (Compare Ps 121:2).
name—in the usual sense (Ps 5:11; 20:1). He thus places over against the great danger the omnipotent God, and drowns, as it were in an anthem, the wickedness of the whole world and of hell, just as a great fire consumes a little drop of water [Luther].