Delivered Like a Sparrow
Psalms 123
A Song of Degrees recalling that if the Lord had not been on Israel's side, their enemies would have swallowed them alive and the waters would have overwhelmed them. It blesses the Lord for delivering their soul like a sparrow escaped from the snare of the fowlers.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHAD not the Lord been on our side (let Israel now say)
BrentonA Song of Degrees. If it had not been that the Lord was among us, let Israel now say;
GreekὨδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Εἰ μὴ ὅτι Κύριος ἦν ἐν ἡμῖν, εἰπάτω δὴ Ἰσραὴλ,
KJVIf it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
JPSA Song of Ascents; of David. 'If it had not been the LORD who was for us', Let Israel now say;
2
Thomsonhad not the Lord been on our side, when men rose up against us;
Brentonif it had not been that the Lord was among us, when men rose up against us;
Greekεἰ μὴ ὅτι Κύριος ἦν ἐν ἡμῖν, ἐν τῷ ἐπαναστῆναι ἀνθρώπους ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς,
KJVIf it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
JPS'If it had not been the LORD who was for us, When men rose up against us,
3
Thomsonthey might have swallowed us up alive—when their wrath was kindled against us,
Brentonverily they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Greekἄρα ζῶντας ἂν κατέπιον ἡμᾶς· ἐν τῷ ὀργισθῆναι τὸν θυμὸν αὐτῶν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς,
KJVThen they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
JPSThen they had swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;
4
Thomsonthe water might have overwhelmed us. Our soul hath passed through a torrent.
Brentonverily the water would have drowned us, our soul would have gone under the torrent.
Greekἄρα τὸ ὕδωρ ἂν κατεπόντισεν ἡμᾶς· χείμαῤῥον διῆλθεν ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν.
KJV—
JPS—
5
Thomson—
BrentonYea, our soul would have gone under the overwhelming water.
GreekἌρα διῆλθεν ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἀνυπόστατον.
KJV—
JPS—
6
ThomsonBlessed be the Lord, Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth!
BrentonBlessed be the Lord, who has not given us for a prey to their teeth.
GreekΕὐλογητὸς Κύριος, ὃς οὐκ ἔδωκεν ἡμᾶς εἰς θήραν τοῖς ὀδοῦσιν αὐτῶν.
KJVBlessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
JPSBlessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7
ThomsonOur soul hath escaped as a bird from the fowler’s snare. The snare was broken and we have escaped.
BrentonOur soul has been delivered as a sparrow from the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered.
GreekἩ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ὡς στρουθίον ἐῤῥύσθη ἐκ τῆς παγίδος τῶν θηρευόντων· ἡ παγὶς συνετρίβη, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐῤῥύσθημεν.
KJVOur soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
JPSOur soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8
ThomsonOur help is in the name of the Lord, Who made the heaven and the earth.
BrentonOur help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
GreekἩ βοήθεια ἡμῶν ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.
KJVOur help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
JPSOur help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.