Psalms 137
137
PSALM 137
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
1By Babel's streams we sat and wept,
when Sion we thought on.
2In midst thereof we hang'd our harps
the willow-trees upon.
3For there a song required they,
who did us captive bring:
Our spoilers call'd for mirth, and said,
A song of Sion sing.
4O how the Lord's song shall we sing
within a foreign land?
5If thee, Jerus'lem, I forget,
skill part from my right hand.
6My tongue to my mouth's roof let cleave,
if I do thee forget,
Jerusalem, and thee above
my chief joy do not set.
7Remember Edom's children, Lord,
who in Jerus'lems day,
Ev'n unto its foundation,
Raze, raze it quite, did say.
8O daughter thou of Babylon,
near to destruction;
Bless'd shall he be that thee rewards,
as thou to us hast done.
9Yea, happy surely shall he be
thy tender little ones
Who shall lay hold upon,
and them shall dash against the stones.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 137: MP1650
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 137
137
Lament During the Babylonian Exile
1By the rivers of Babylon,
there we sat, yes, we wept,
when we remembered Zion.
2On the willows#Species of tree uncertain in her midst,
we hung up our lyres.
3For there our captors asked of us
words of a song,
and our tormentors#Only occurring once in the MT, this interpretation is uncertain. The LXX’s “carried us captive” is a guess. If related to the Hebrew root yll it might have the idea of “mockers/yammerers” asked of us jubilation,
“Sing for us from a song of Zion.”
4How could we sing the song of Yahweh
in a foreign land?#Literally “a land of a foreigner”
5If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget.#That is, how to play a musical instrument
6Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if do not I exalt Jerusalem
above my highest joy.
7Remember, O Yahweh, against the sons of Edom
the day of Jerusalem,
the ones who said, “Lay it bare! Lay it bare
to its foundation!”
8O daughter of Babylon, about to be devastated,
happy shall be he who pays back to you
what you paid out to us.#Literally “with what you treated us”
9Happy shall be he who seizes
and smashes your children
against the rock.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software