1 A Song of the Ascents, by David. Save `for' Jehovah -- who hath been for us, (Pray, let Israel say),
2 Save `for' Jehovah -- who hath been for us, In the rising up of man against us,
3 Then alive they had swallowed us up, In the burning of their anger against us,
4 Then the waters had overflowed us, The stream passed over our soul,
5 Then passed over our soul had the proud waters.
6 Blessed `is' Jehovah who hath not given us, A prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul as a bird hath escaped from a snare of fowlers, The snare was broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help `is' in the name of Jehovah, Maker of the heavens and earth!
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 124
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].