Psalms 124:1

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A Song of Ascents; of David. If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, Let Israel now say,

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד לוּלֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה שֶׁהָ֣יָה לָ֑נוּ יֹֽאמַר־נָ֝א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Transliteration

šîr the maʿălôt to dāwid if-not YHWH that-hāyāh to-us, yōʾmar-now yiśrāʾēl

Grammar Details

*šîr*: construct noun, masculine singular - song of
*maʿălôt*: noun, feminine plural - ascents/steps/degrees
*dāwid*: proper noun - David
*lûlē*: conditional negative particle - if not, except
*YHWH*: proper noun - the divine name
*šehāyāh*: relative pronoun + verb qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - who was
*lānû*: preposition + 1st person plural suffix - to/for us
*yōʾmar*: verb qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - let say/would say
*nā*: particle of entreaty - now/please
*yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel

Word Meanings

*šîr hamaʿălôt*: song of ascents/pilgrim song/steps song
*lûlē*: unless/if not for/except
*šehāyāh*: who was/who has been
*yōʾmar-nā*: let say now/may say now/should say indeed

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 129:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up, Let Israel now say,
Ps 54:4 : 4 Behold, God is my helper: The Lord is of them that uphold my soul.
Ps 120:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me.
Rom 8:31 : 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?
Ps 27:1 : 1 [ A Psalm of David.] Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps 121:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come?
Ps 56:9 : 9 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call: This I know, that God is for me.
Ps 94:17 : 17 Unless Jehovah had been my help, My soul had soon dwelt in silence.
Ps 118:6-7 : 6 Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? 7 Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.
Ps 130:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.
Ps 131:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents; of David. Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.
Ps 132:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. Jehovah, remember for David All his affliction;
Ps 133:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents; of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Ps 134:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. Behold, bless ye Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah, That by night stand in the house of Jehovah.
Isa 8:9-9 : 9 Make an uproar, O ye peoples, and be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces. 10 Take counsel together, and it shall be brought to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Ps 122:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents; of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah.
Ps 123:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens.
Ps 125:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. They that trust in Jehovah Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever.
Ps 126:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.
Ps 127:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents; of Solomon. Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.
Ps 128:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways.
Ps 46:7 : 7 Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. {H5542}
Ps 46:11 : 11 Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. {H5542}
Heb 13:5-6 : 5 Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. 6 So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; {G2532} I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?
Exod 15:1 : 1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah, and spake, saying, I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Ps 124:2-6
5 verses
96%
2If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, When men rose up against us;
3Then they had swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;
4Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul;
5Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6Blessed be Jehovah, Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Ps 94:17
76%
17Unless Jehovah had been my help, My soul had soon dwelt in silence.
Ps 129:1
73%
1A Song of Ascents. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up, Let Israel now say,
Ps 115:1-2
2 verses
72%
1Not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth's sake.
2Wherefore should the nations say, Where is now their God?
Ps 126:1-3
3 verses
72%
1A Song of Ascents. When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.
2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.
3Jehovah hath done great things for us, [Whereof] we are glad.
Ps 118:2
72%
2Let Israel now say, That his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.
Ps 124:8
72%
8Our help is in the name of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.
Ps 118:6-7
2 verses
71%
6Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?
7Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.
Ps 27:13
71%
13[ I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living.
Ps 118:23-24
2 verses
71%
23This is Jehovah's doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.
24This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Ps 118:13-14
2 verses
71%
13Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall; But Jehovah helped me.
14Jehovah is my strength and song; And he is become my salvation.
Ps 115:12
71%
12Jehovah hath been mindful of us; He will bless [us]: He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
Ps 28:6
71%
6Blessed be Jehovah, Because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
Ps 130:3
70%
3If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
Deut 32:27
70%
27Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, Lest their adversaries should judge amiss, Lest they should say, Our hand is exalted, And Jehovah hath not done all this.
Josh 24:17
69%
17for Jehovah our God, he it is that brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and that did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed;
Ps 106:47-48
2 verses
69%
47Save us, O Jehovah our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.
48Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye Jehovah.
Ps 33:12
69%
12Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Ps 115:9
69%
9O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
1 Chr 16:35
69%
35And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us together and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.
Ps 18:31
69%
31For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, besides our God,
Ps 144:15
69%
15Happy is the people that is in such a case; [Yea], happy is the people whose God is Jehovah.
Ps 122:1
69%
1A Song of Ascents; of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah.
Ps 89:18
69%
18For our shield belongeth unto Jehovah; And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Ps 118:16
68%
16The right hand of Jehovah is exalted: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.
2 Sam 22:32
68%
32For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, save our God?
Ps 116:5
68%
5Gracious is Jehovah, and righteous; Yea, our God is merciful.
Ps 118:18
68%
18Jehovah hath chastened me sore; But he hath not given me over unto death.
Ps 13:4
68%
4Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; [Lest] mine adversaries rejoice when I am moved.
Ps 46:7
68%
7Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. {H5542}
Josh 22:24
68%
24and if we have not [rather] out of carefulness done this, [and] of purpose, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with Jehovah, the God of Israel?
Ps 117:2
68%
2For his lovingkindness is great toward us; And the truth of Jehovah [endureth] for ever. Praise ye Jehovah.
Isa 33:2
68%
2O Jehovah, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou our arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
Ps 144:1
68%
1[ A Psalm of David.] Blessed be Jehovah my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, [And] my fingers to fight:
2 Sam 22:19
68%
19They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.
Ps 123:4
68%
4Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scoffing of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud.
Ps 116:12
68%
12What shall I render unto Jehovah For all his benefits toward me?
Ps 7:3
68%
3O Jehovah my God, if I have done this; If there be iniquity in my hands;
Ps 108:12
68%
12Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.