Psalms – Chapter 123

Old Testament8 Verses

1A gradual canticle. If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say:

2If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us,

3Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us,

4Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up.

5Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable.

6Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth.

7Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

8Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Reflection for Today

The message of Psalms Chapter 123 unfolds within the broader narrative of prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God. Catholic theology, drawing on the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589), sees in this chapter a call to deeper faith. The principle that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him guides our interpretation.

The Church Fathers, including St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and St. John Chrysostom, devoted themselves to explaining Scripture for the faithful. Their insights, preserved in the Church's Tradition, continue to illuminate our reading. The Catechism reminds us that "the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord" (CIC 103).

As you engage with this chapter, bring your questions, struggles, and hopes to the text. God's Word addresses the whole person—mind, heart, and will. Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we receive the grace to live what we read. May this chapter strengthen your faith and deepen your love for Christ and His Church.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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