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The Book of Psalms

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- Chapter 137 -

By the rivers of Babylon

(Ezekiel 1:1-3)
1
A Psalm of David: to Jeremiah. Above the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept, while we remembered Zion.(a)
2
By the willow trees, in their midst, we hung up our instruments.
3
For, in that place, those who led us into captivity questioned us about the words of the songs. And those who carried us away said: “Sing us a hymn from the songs of Zion.”
4
How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?
5
If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.
6
May my tongue adhere to my jaws, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem first, as the beginning of my joy.
7
O Lord, call to mind the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, who say: “Despoil it, despoil it, even to its foundation.”
8
O daughter of Babylon, have pity. Blessed is he who will repay you with your payment, which you have paid to us.(b)
9
Blessed is he who will take hold of your little ones and dash them against the rock.(c)

Footnotes

(a)136:1 For Jeremias:For the time of Jeremias, and the captivity of Babylon.(Challoner)
(b)136:8 This first part can be read as: ‘O daughter of Babylon, have pity,’ or as: ‘O pitiable (miserable) daughter of Babylon.’(Conte)
(c)136:9 Dash thy little ones, etc:In the spiritual sense, we dash the little ones of Babylon against the rock, when we mortify our passions, and stifle the first motions of them, by a speedy recourse to the rock which is Christ.(Challoner)

By the rivers of Babylon

(Ezekiel 1:1-3)
1
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2
On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.
3
For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4
How can we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?
5
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
6
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7
Remember, LORD, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”
8
Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us.
9
Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.
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