A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
Parallel translations
- WEB A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,
- KJV If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
- NKJV “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say—
- NASB “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel say,
- NLT What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel is called to confess that if Yahweh had not been on their side, all would have been different. Survival is owed entirely to God's presence with His people.
Overview
This Song of Ascents by David opens a corporate confession, inviting all Israel to say, 'If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side.' The repetition presses the people to acknowledge their utter dependence on God. The phrase 'God on our side' assures believers, for in Christ God is decisively for His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Ps 56:9Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side.
- Ps 54:4Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
- Ps 120:1A song of ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.
- Heb 13:5–6Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Ps 94:17Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
- Ps 118:6–7The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Isa 8:9–10Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- Ps 121:1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
- Ps 125:1A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.
- Ps 27:1Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?
- Ps 46:7The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Ps 127:1A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.
- Ps 128:1A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
- Ps 130:1A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!
- Ps 129:1A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—
- Ps 133:1A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
- Ps 126:1A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
- Exod 15:1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
- Ps 46:11The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Ps 132:1A song of ascents. O LORD, remember on behalf of David all the hardships he endured,
- Ps 134:1A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD!
- Ps 123:1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
- Ps 131:1A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
- Ps 122:1A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 124:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.