Psalms 137 WBT
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, yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.
3For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us [required of us] mirth, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.
4How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [her skill].
6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze [it], raze [it], [even] to its foundation.
8O daughter of Babylon, who 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 stones.
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