Psalms 137 ASV
Summary: One of the Psalter's most emotionally raw psalms, an exiles' lament opening "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion" (v. 1), harps hung silent on the willows while captors mockingly demand "one of the songs of Zion" (v. 3). The exiles refuse, vowing never to forget Jerusalem — "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning" (v. 5) — and the psalm's tone darkens into a harsh imprecation against Edom and Babylon for their role in Jerusalem's fall. It closes with a shocking curse on Babylon's children (v. 8-9), among the starkest expressions of exile-era grief and rage found anywhere in scripture.
1By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.
2Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.
3For there they that led us captive required of us songs, And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4How shall we sing Jehovah’s song In a foreign land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her skill.
6Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.
7Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof.
8O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.
9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock.
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