Psalms Chapter 124

Other Translations

asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM

1 But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them;

2 Thou wilt have all the nations in derision.

3 Because of his strength I will give heed unto thee;

4 For God is my high tower.

5 My God with his lovingkindness will meet me:

6 God will let me see

7 my desire upon mine enemies.

8 Slay them not, lest my people forget:

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

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.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 A Song of Degrees. They that trust in the Lord [shall be] as mount Sion: he that dwells in Jerusalem shall never be moved.

2 The mountains are round about her, and [so] the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth and even for ever.

3 For the Lord will not allow the rod of sinners to be upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous should stretch forth their hands to iniquity.

4 Do good, O Lord, to them [that are] good, and to them [that are] upright in heart.

5 But them that turn aside to crooked ways the Lord will lead away with the workers of iniquity: [but] peace [shall be] upon Israel.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Canticum graduum. Qui confidunt in Domino, sicut mons Sion: non commovebitur in æternum, qui habitat

2 in Ierusalem. Montes in circuitu eius: et Dominus in circuitu populi sui, ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.

3 Quia non relinquet Dominus virgam peccatorum super sortem iustorum: ut non extendant iusti ad iniquitatem manus suas.

4 Benefac Domine bonis, et rectis corde.

5 Declinantes autem in obligationes, adducet Dominus cum operantibus iniquitatem: pax super Israel.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 A Song of Ascents. By David. 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 up 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 proud waters would have gone over our soul.

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

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

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

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 A Song of the Ascents, by David. Save <FI>for<Fi> Jehovah--who hath been for us, (Pray, let Israel say),

2 Save <FI>for<Fi> Jehovah--who hath been for us, In the rising up of man against us,

3 Then alive they had swallowed us up, In the burning of their anger against us,

4 Then the waters had overflowed us, The stream passed over our soul,

5 Then passed over our soul had the proud waters.

6 Blessed <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah who hath not given us, A prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul as a bird hath escaped from a snare of fowlers, The snare was broken, and we have escaped.

8 Our help <FI>is<Fi> in the name of Jehovah, Maker of the heavens and earth!

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).