1 If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say—

2 if the Lord had not been on our side

when people attacked us,

3 they would have swallowed us alive

when their anger flared against us;

4 the flood would have engulfed us,

the torrent would have swept over us,

5 the raging waters

would have swept us away.

1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,

Now may Israel say;

2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,

When men rose up against us:

3 Then they had swallowed us up quick,

When their wrath was kindled against us:

4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us,

The stream had gone over our soul:

5 Then the proud waters

Had gone over our soul.

1 What if the Lord had not been on our side?

Let all Israel repeat:

2 What if the Lord had not been on our side

when people attacked us?

3 They would have swallowed us alive

in their burning anger.

4 The waters would have engulfed us;

a torrent would have overwhelmed us.

5 Yes, the raging waters of their fury

would have overwhelmed our very lives.

1 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”

Let Israel now say—

2 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,

When men rose up against us,

3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,

When their wrath was kindled against us;

4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,

The stream would have gone over our soul;

5 Then the swollen waters

Would have gone over our soul.”

1 What if the Lord had not been on our side?

(Let Israel repeat this.)

2 What if the Lord had not been on our side

when we were attacked?

3 When they were angry with us,

they would have swallowed us alive.

4 They would have been like a flood drowning us;

they would have poured over us like a river.

5 They would have swept us away like a mighty stream.

1 If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side,

Let Israel now say,

2 If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side,

When men rose up against us;

3 Then they had swallowed us up alive,

When their wrath was kindled against us;

4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us,

The stream had gone over our soul;

5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

1 If it had not been Jehovah who was for us—oh let Israel say— 2 If it had not been Jehovah who was for us, when men rose up against us, 3 Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, a torrent had gone over our soul; 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

1 “If the Lord had not been on our side …” 

(Israel should repeat this.) 

2 “If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, 

3 then they would have swallowed us alive 

when their anger exploded against us. 

4 Then the floodwaters would have swept us away. 

An ⸤overflowing⸥ stream would have washed us away. 

5 Then raging water would have washed us away.” 

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say—

2 If the Lord had not been on our side

when men attacked us,

3 then they would have swallowed us alive

in their burning anger against us.

4 Then the waters would have engulfed us;

the torrent would have swept over us;

5 the raging waters would have swept over us.

1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side

—let Israel now say—

2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,

when our enemies attacked us,

3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,

when their anger was kindled against us;

4 then the flood would have swept us away,

the torrent would have gone over us;

5 then over us would have gone

the raging waters.

1 “If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side,”

do let Israel say,

2 “If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side,

when men rose up against us,

3 then they would have swallowed us alive,

when their anger was kindled against us.

4 Then the waters would have flooded over us,

the torrent would have passed over our soul.

5 Then over our soul would have passed

the raging waters.”

1 Here is what Israel should say.

Suppose the Lord had not been on our side.

2 Suppose the Lord had not been on our side

when our enemies attacked us.

3 Suppose he had not been on our side

when their anger blazed out against us.

Then they would have swallowed us alive.

4 They would have been like a flood that drowned us.

They would have swept over us like a rushing river.

5 They would have washed us away

like a swollen stream.

1 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,”

Let Israel now say,

2 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side

When men rose up against us,

3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,

When their anger was kindled against us;

4 Then the waters would have engulfed us,

The stream would have swept over our soul;

5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”