A song of ascents. If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel now say—

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

if the Lord had not been on our side when people rose up against us,

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger against us.

Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

Then the waters would have overwhelmed us; the torrent would have swept over our being.

Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

Then the raging waters would have passed over our soul.

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.