Psalm 124

1    If the Lord himself had not been on our side,  ♦

now may Israel say;

2    If the Lord had not been on our side,  ♦

when enemies rose up against us;

3    Then would they have swallowed us alive  ♦

when their anger burned against us;

4    Then would the waters have overwhelmed us

    and the torrent gone over our soul;  ♦

over our soul would have swept the raging waters.

5    But blessed be the Lord  ♦

who has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.

6    Our soul has escaped

    as a bird from the snare of the fowler;  ♦

the snare is broken and we are delivered.

7    Our help is in the name of the Lord,  ♦

who has made heaven and earth.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.