Psalm 124
Table of Psalms << Psalm 124 >> | ||||||||||||||
General Information
Psalm 124 belongs to the so-called Songs of Ascent, in Latin cantica graduum or step songs. There are 15 psalms in the series, apparently referring to the 15 steps of the temple in Jerusalem. Psalm 124 is linked to psalm 121, in that both contain 54 words (in Hebrew), the mathematical value of the verb 'keep', 'guard' - the key theme of both psalms.
Settings by composers
- William Knapp SATB (in English, BCP)
- Johann Walter SATB (German chorale)
- Charles Villiers Stanford Solo or Unison (English)
- Martin Luther SATB, in German
Texts and translations
Clementine Vulgate (Psalm 123)Latin text 1 Canticum graduum. Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis, dicat nunc Israël, 2 nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis: cum exsurgerent homines in nos, 3 forte vivos deglutissent nos; cum irasceretur furor eorum in nos, 4 forte aquae absorbuisset nos; 5 torrentem pertransivit anima nostra; forsitan pertransisset anima nostra aquam intolerabilem. 6 Benedictus Dominus, qui non dedit nos in captionem dentibus eorum. 7 Anima nostra sicut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium; laqueus contritus est, 8 Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini, qui fecit caelum et terram. |
Church of England 1662 Book of Common PrayerEnglish text 1 If the Lord himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say: if the Lord himself had not been on our side, when men rose up against us; 2 They had swallowed us up quick: when thy were so wrathfully displeased at us. 3 Yea, the waters had drowned us: and the stream had gone over our soul. 4 The deep waters of the proud: had gone even over our soul. 5 But praised be the Lord: who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth. 6 Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler: the snare is broken, 7 Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth. |
Douay-Rheims Bible (Psalm 123)English text A gradual canticle. If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say: |
Káldi fordításHungarian text Ének a fölmenetekre. Ha az Úr velünk nem lett volna, mondja meg most Izrael… |
Statenbijbel (1637)
Dutch text
1 Een lied Hammaaloth, van David. Ten ware de HEERE, Die bij ons geweest is, zegge nu Israël,
2 Ten ware de HEERE, Die bij ons geweest is, als de mensen tegen ons opstonden;
3 Toen zouden zij ons levend verslonden hebben, als hun toorn tegen ons ontstak.
4 Toen zouden ons de wateren overlopen hebben; een stroom zou over onze ziel gegaan zijn.
5 Toen zouden de stoute wateren over onze ziel gegaan zijn.
6 De HEERE zij geloofd, Die ons in hun tanden niet heeft overgegeven tot een roof.
7 Onze ziel is ontkomen, als een vogel uit den strik der vogelvangers; de strik is gebroken, en wij zijn ontkomen.
8 Onze hulp is in den Naam des HEEREN, Die hemel en aarde gemaakt heeft.
Metrical Paraphrase by Isaac Watts, 1719
English text
A song for the fifth of November.
Had not the Lord, may Israel say,
Had not the Lord maintained our side,
When men, to make our lives a prey,
Rose like the swelling of the tide;
The swelling tide had stopped our breath,
So fiercely did the waters roll,
We had been swallowed deep in death;
Proud waters had o'erwhelmed our soul.
We leap for joy, we shout and sing,
Who just escaped the fatal stroke;
So flies the bird with cheerful wing,
When once the fowler's snare is broke.
For ever blessed be the Lord,
Who broke the fowler's cursed snare,
Who saved us from the murdering sword,
And made our lives and souls his care.
Our help is in Jehovah's name,
Who formed the earth and built the skies:
He that upholds that wondrous frame
Guards His own church with watchful eyes.