Psalms 137 GNV
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 riuers of Babel we sate, and there wee wept, when we remembred Zion.
2Wee hanged our harpes vpon the willowes in the middes thereof.
3Then they that ledde vs captiues, required of vs songs and mirth, when wee had hanged vp our harpes, saying, Sing vs one of the songs of Zion.
4Howe shall we sing, said we, a song of the Lord in a strange land?
5If I forget thee, O Ierusalem, let my right hand forget to play.
6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth: yea, if I preferre not Ierusalem to my chiefe ioy.
7Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Ierusalem, which saide, Rase it, rase it to the foundation thereof.
8O daughter of Babel, worthy to be destroyed, blessed shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast serued vs.
9Blessed shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy children against the stones.
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