Psalms 124:1-3

Context

Psalm 124¹

A song of ascents,² by David.

124:1 “If the Lord had not been on our side” –

let Israel say this! –

124:2 if the Lord had not been on our side,

when men attacked us,³

124:3 they would have swallowed us alive,

when their anger raged against us.

[124:1] ¹sn Psalm 124. Israel acknowledges that the Lord delivered them from certain disaster.

[124:1] ²sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[124:2] ³tn Heb “rose up against us.”