Psalm 137 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

An Experience of the Captivity.

137 By the (A)rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and (B)wept,
When we remembered Zion.
2 Upon the [a](C)willows in the midst of it
We (D)hung our [b]harps.
3 For there our captors [c](E)demanded of us [d]songs,
And (F)our tormentors mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

4 How can we sing (G)the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?
5 If I (H)forget you, O Jerusalem,
May my right hand [e]forget her skill.
6 May my (I)tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you,
If I do not [f](J)exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

7 Remember, O Lord, against the sons of (K)Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Who said, “Raze it, raze it
(L)To its very foundation.”
8 O daughter of Babylon, you [g](M)devastated one,
How blessed will be the one who (N)repays you
With [h]the recompense with which you have repaid us.
9 How blessed will be the one who seizes and (O)dashes your little ones
Against the rock.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 137:2 Or poplars
  2. Psalm 137:2 Lit lyres
  3. Psalm 137:3 Lit asked
  4. Psalm 137:3 Lit words of song
  5. Psalm 137:5 I.e. become lame
  6. Psalm 137:6 Lit cause to ascend
  7. Psalm 137:8 Or devastator
  8. Psalm 137:8 Lit your recompense

Cross references

  1. Psalm 137:1 : Ezek 1:1, 3
  2. Psalm 137:1 : Neh 1:4
  3. Psalm 137:2 : Lev 23:40; Is 44:4
  4. Psalm 137:2 : Job 30:31; Is 24:8; Ezek 26:13
  5. Psalm 137:3 : Ps 80:6
  6. Psalm 137:3 : Is 49:17
  7. Psalm 137:4 : 2 Chr 29:27; Neh 12:46
  8. Psalm 137:5 : Is 65:11
  9. Psalm 137:6 : Job 29:10; Ps 22:15; Ezek 3:26
  10. Psalm 137:6 : Neh 2:3
  11. Psalm 137:7 : Ps 83:4-8; Is 34:5, 6; Jer 49:7-22; Lam 4:21; Ezek 25:12-14; 35:2; Amos 1:11; Obad 10-14
  12. Psalm 137:7 : Ps 74:7; Hab 3:13
  13. Psalm 137:8 : Is 13:1-22; 47:1-15; Jer 25:12; 50:1-46; 51:1-64
  14. Psalm 137:8 : Jer 50:15; 51:24, 35, 36, 49; Rev 18:6
  15. Psalm 137:9 : 2 Kin 8:12; Is 13:16; Hos 13:16; Nah 3:10

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Psalm 137 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

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Psalm 137 - New Life Version (NLV)

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Psalm 137 - New International Version (NIV)

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Psalm 137 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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