(a) He shows that God was ready to help at need and that there was no other way to be saved, but by this means alone.

2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

3 Then they had swallowed us up {b} quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

(b) So unable were we to resist.

4 Then the {c} waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

(c) He uses proper similitudes to express the great danger that the Church was in, and out of which God miraculously delivered them.

5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

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

7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the {d} snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

(d) For the wicked not only furiously rage against the faithful, but craftily imagined to destroy them.

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