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Psalms Chapter 137 (ASV)

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Psalms 137
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1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.

2 Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.

3 For 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.

4 How shall we sing Jehovah's song In a foreign land?

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget `her skill'.

6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

7 Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof.

8 O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.

9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock. Psalm 138 A `Psalm' of David.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalm 137 about?
It's a lament of Jewish exiles "by the rivers of Babylon," who wept remembering Zion and hung their harps on the willows rather than sing for their captors (vv.1-3).
What does verse 5 vow about Jerusalem?
V.5 vows, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning," a promise never to forget the city even in exile.
How does the psalm end?
It ends harshly, pronouncing "happy" whoever repays Babylon "as thou hast served us," including a violent line against "her little ones" (v.9), reflecting the raw anguish of the exiles.

Today's Verse

And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; forasmuch as Jehovah delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.

1-samuel 26:23 | ASV

Verse Of The Day

The psalmist vows never to forget Jerusalem, even letting his "right hand forget her cunning" first, before closing with a harsh cry against Edom and Babylon similar in tone to Isaiah 13:16. Browse further on the Psalms overview or continue to Psalms 138.