Significant Stories

Psalms · Chapter 137

By the Rivers of Babylon
(Ezekiel 1:1–3)
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the willows we hung our harps, There on the willows 1
we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.” for there our captors requested a song;
our tormentors demanded songs of joy:
“Sing us a song of Zion.” 4 How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land? How can we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may my right hand cease to function. 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy! May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not exalt Jerusalem
as my greatest joy! 7 Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!” Remember, O LORD,
the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell:
“Destroy it,” they said,
“tear it down to its foundations!” 8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. O Daughter of Babylon,
doomed to destruction,
blessed is he who repays you
as you have done to us. 9 Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. Blessed is he who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.