שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד לוּלֵי ה' שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ יֹאמַר נָא יִשְׂרָאֵל

A song of ascents, by David. In a certain sense, this psalm of thanksgiving comes as a response to the previous psalm of supplication, as it mentions not only a prayer to God but also His resulting salvation. While it does not describe complete salvation, it does depict extrication from a dire predicament. Let Israel now say: Had it not been for the Lord, who was with us. This song of gratitude is written on the part of the entire nation, as indicated by the phrase “Let Israel now say.”

לוּלֵי ה' שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ בְּקוּם עָלֵינוּ אָדָם

Had it not been for the Lord, had God, who was with us, not supported our cause when men rose against us, to fight against us and disparage us,

אֲזַי חַיִּים בְּלָעוּנוּ בַּחֲרוֹת אַפָּם בָּנוּ

they would have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled against us.

אֲזַי הַמַּיִם שְׁטָפוּנוּ נַחְלָה עָבַר עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ

Then, if God had not come to our aid, the waters would have engulfed us. We would have been washed away by the “waters” of hordes of many nations; the torrent would have swept over us.

אֲזַי עָבַר עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ הַמַּיִם הַזֵּידוֹנִים

Then the wicked waters would have swept over us. Since the waters mentioned in these verses are a metaphor for an outpouring of malice and evil, the word “wicked” is appropriate here.

בָּרוּךְ ה' שֶׁלֹּא נְתָנָנוּ טֶרֶף לְשִׁנֵּיהֶם

Now follows a more explicit expression of thanks to God: Blessed be the Lord, who did not give us over as prey to their teeth. Although our enemies continually lie in wait, God does not allow them to trap us.

נַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּצִפּוֹר נִמְלְטָה מִפַּח יוֹקְשִׁים הַפַּח נִשְׁבָּר וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִמְלָטְנוּ

We were like a bird escaping from a trapper’s snare. Occasionally a bird caught in a snare manages to break free of it. In our case as well, the snare broke, and we escaped.

עֶזְרֵנוּ בְּשֵׁם ה' עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ

This miraculous rescue occurred to us because our help is in the name of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.