Prayer book

Psalm 123 (124) — Song of Ascents

Psalmus 123 • Vulgate 123 / Hebrew 124

English, Latin

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About this text

Complete historical Scripture text: English Douay-Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752), from the John Murphy edition (1899); Latin Clementine Vulgate. Both underlying texts are public domain. Psalm 123 in Vulgate/Douay-Rheims numbering is Psalm 124 in modern Hebrew numbering (shown in parentheses). Numbered verses follow each source, retaining any superscriptions it prints; headings and verse divisions can differ between editions. This reader has 8 numbered verses in each language. It belongs to the fifteen gradual psalms (Songs of Ascents) in grant 9. Grant 30 concerns reverent spiritual reading of approved Scripture, with its specified duration for a plenary indulgence.

Text edition English: Douay-Rheims, Challoner revision (1749–1752), John Murphy edition (1899). Latin: Clementine Vulgate.

Use an ecclesiastically approved text when fulfilling a prayer grant. The displayed forms retain their own source histories and need not be literal line-by-line counterparts.

English text

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Estimated English reading time 45–75 seconds

How the estimate was made

Actual displayed source text; editorial vocal pace 100–160 words/minute. Rounded range; headings/rubrics within this displayed text are included, but verse numbers and V./R./Ant. labels are not counted.

Reading estimate only; it does not establish the duration or satisfy other conditions of a related indulgenced work.

1. If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say: 2. If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us, 3. Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us, 4. Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up. 5. Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable. 6. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. 7. Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered. 8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Latin text

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Estimated Latin reading time 30–75 seconds

How the estimate was made

Actual displayed source text; editorial vocal pace 80–140 words/minute. Rounded range; headings/rubrics within this displayed text are included, but verse numbers and V./R./Ant. labels are not counted.

Reading estimate only; it does not establish the duration or satisfy other conditions of a related indulgenced work.

1. Canticum graduum. Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis, dicat nunc Israel, 2. nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis : cum exsurgerent homines in nos, 3. forte vivos deglutissent nos; cum irasceretur furor eorum in nos, 4. forsitan aqua absorbuisset nos; 5. torrentem pertransivit anima nostra; forsitan pertransisset anima nostra aquam intolerabilem. 6. Benedictus Dominus, qui non dedit nos in captionem dentibus eorum. 7. Anima nostra sicut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium; laqueus contritus est, et nos liberati sumus. 8. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini, qui fecit caelum et terram.

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Status labels below reflect the catalog as of 27 October 2026.

Text sources

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