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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 124

Psalm 124 is read especially through the theme of creation, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

CreationPilgrimage
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 124

1A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say,

2if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us,

3then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us,

4then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul.

5Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.

6Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

7Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8Our help is in the LORD’s name, who made heaven and earth.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 124

Psalm 124 is read especially through the theme of creation, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book V (Psalms 107–150). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Creation, Pilgrimage. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 124

Psalm 124 contains 8 verses and about 124 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say,” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 8 closes: “Our help is in the LORD’s name, who made heaven and earth.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include soul, been, side, waters, gone, escaped. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 124

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 124:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes creation, with related themes of Creation, Pilgrimage. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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