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Psalm 124

English Standard Version



1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— let Israel now say— (Ps 94:17; Ps 120:1; Ps 129:1) 2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, 3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; (Ps 56:1) 4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; (Job 22:11; Ps 32:6; Ps 69:1; Ps 69:2; Isa 8:8) 5 then over us would have gone the raging waters. 6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! (Ps 91:3) 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Ps 121:2) 

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Psalm 124

New International Version



1 If the Lord had not been on our side – let Israel say – 2 if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, 3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; 4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging waters would have swept us away. 6 Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 

Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised), NIV TM
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

Psalm 124

King James Version

1 A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

Psalm 124

New International Reader’s Version



1 Here is what Israel should say. Suppose the LORD had not been on our side. 2 Suppose the LORD had not been on our side when our enemies attacked us. 3 Suppose he had not been on our side when their burning anger blazed out against us. Then they would have swallowed us alive. 4 They would have been like a flood that drowned us. They would have swept over us like a rushing river. 5 They would have washed us away like a swollen stream. 6 Give praise to the LORD. He has not let our enemies chew us up. 7 We have escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help comes from the LORD. He is the Maker of heaven and earth. 

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised)
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.