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.

6 Praise be to the Lord,

who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird

from the fowler’s snare;

the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

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.

6 Blessed be the Lord,

Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:

The snare is broken, and we are escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

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.

6 Praise the Lord,

who did not let their teeth tear us apart!

7 We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.

The trap is broken, and we are free!

8 Our help is from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

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.”

6 Blessed be the Lord,

Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

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.

6 Praise the Lord,

who did not let them chew us up.

7 We escaped like a bird

from the hunter’s trap.

The trap broke,

and we escaped.

8 Our help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

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.

6 Blessed be Jehovah,

Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:

The snare is broken, and we are escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of Jehovah,

Who made heaven and earth.

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.

6 Blessed be Jehovah, who gave us not up a prey to their teeth! 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of Jehovah, the maker of heavens and earth.

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.” 

6 Thank the Lord, who did not let them sink their teeth into us. 

7 We escaped like a bird caught in a hunter’s trap. 

The trap was broken, and we escaped. 

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

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.

6 Praise the Lord,

who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net;

the net is torn, and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of Yahweh,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

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.

6 Blessed be the Lord,

who has not given us

as prey to their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird

from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken,

and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

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.”

6 Blessed be Yahweh,

who has not made us prey for their teeth.

7 Our soul has escaped like a bird

from the snare of fowlers.

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of Yahweh,

maker of heaven and earth.

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.

6 Give praise to the Lord.

He has not let our enemies chew us up.

7 We have escaped like a bird

from a hunter’s trap.

The trap has been broken,

and we have escaped.

8 Our help comes from the Lord.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth.

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.”

6 Blessed be the Lord,

Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.

7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;

The snare is broken and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.