Psalms 123
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 123 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
6 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Psalms 123
1(124) A Song of Degrees. If it had not been that the Lord was among us, let Israel now say;Ὠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Εἰ μὴ ὅτι Κύριος ἦν ἐν ἡμῖν, εἰπάτω δὴ Ἰσραὴλ,
2if it had not been that the Lord was among us, when men rose up against us;εἰ μὴ ὅτι Κύριος ἦν ἐν ἡμῖν, ἐν τῷ ἐπαναστῆναι ἀνθρώπους ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς,
3verily they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us:ἄρα ζῶντας ἂν κατέπιον ἡμᾶς· ἐν τῷ ὀργισθῆναι τὸν θυμὸν αὐτῶν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς,
4verily the water would have drowned us, our soul would have gone under the torrent.ἄρα τὸ ὕδωρ ἂν κατεπόντισεν ἡμᾶς· χείμαῤῥον διῆλθεν ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν.
5Yes, our soul would have gone under the overwhelming water.Ἄρα διῆλθεν ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἀνυπόστατον.
6Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us for a prey to their teeth.Εὐλογητὸς Κύριος, ὃς οὐκ ἔδωκεν ἡμᾶς εἰς θήραν τοῖς ὀδοῦσιν αὐτῶν.
7Our soul has been delivered as a sparrow from the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered.Ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ὡς στρουθίον ἐῤῥύσθη ἐκ τῆς παγίδος τῶν θηρευόντων· ἡ παγὶς συνετρίβη, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐῤῥύσθημεν.
8Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.Ἡ βοήθεια ἡμῶν ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.
The Fathers on Psalms 123
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 123:1–3Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “If the Lord Himself had not been in us, now may Israel say” (ver. 1)…When? “When men rose up against us” (ver. 2). Marvel not: they have been subdued: for they were men; but the Lord was in us, man was not in us: for men rose up against us. Nevertheless men would crush other men, unless in those men who could not be crushed, there were not man, but the Lord. For what could men do to you, while ye rejoiced,…
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On Psalms 123:4Saint Augustine of Hippo4. …“When their fury was enraged upon us.” They are now in anger, they now openly rage: “perchance the water had drowned us” (ver. 4). By water he meaneth ungodly nations: and we shall see what sort of water in the following verses. Whoever had consented unto them, water would have overwhelmed him. For he would die by the death of the Egyptians, he would not pass through after the example of the Israelites. For…
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On Psalms 123:4Saint Augustine of Hippo5. In the first place, what meaneth, “Perchance our soul hath passed over”? (ver. 5). Understand however the meaning to be this: “Thinkest thou our soul hath passed over?” and why do they say, “Thinkest thou”? Because the greatness of the danger maketh it hardly credible that he hath escaped. They have endured a great death: they have been in great dangers; they have been so much oppressed, that they almost gave…
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On Psalms 123:6Saint Augustine of Hippo8. Let them escape the water without substance, and say, “Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth” (ver. 6). For the hunters were following, and had placed a bait in their trap. What bait? The sweetness of this life, so that each man for the sake of the sweetness of this life may thrust his head into iniquity, and be caught in the trap. Not they, in whom the Lord was, they who…
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On Psalms 123:7Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “Our soul is escaped, even as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers” (ver. 7). Because the Lord was in the soul itself, therefore hath that soul escaped, even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. Why like a bird? Because it had fallen heedlessly, like a bird; and it could say afterwards, God will forgive me. Unstable bird, rather set thy feet firm upon the rock: go not into the trap. Thou wilt be taken,…
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On Psalms 123:8Open Psalms 123 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo10. …“Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth” (ver. 8). For if this were not our help, the snare would not indeed remain for ever; but when the bird was once taken, it would be crushed. For this life will pass away; and they who shall have been taken in by its pleasures, and through these pleasures have offended God, will pass away with this life. For the snare will be broken;…
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