Psalm 137–138

Psalm 137

LAMENT OF THE EXILES

¹By the rivers of Babylon—

there we sat down and wept

when we remembered Zion.^s

²There we hung up our lyres

on the poplar trees,^t

³for our captors there asked us for songs,

and our tormentors, for rejoicing:

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”^u

⁴How can we sing the Lord’s song

on foreign soil?^v

⁵If I forget you, Jerusalem,

may my right hand forget its skill.^w

⁶May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth

if I do not remember you,

if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!^x

⁷Remember, Lord, what the Edomites said

that day^A at Jerusalem:

“Destroy it! Destroy it

down to its foundations!”^y

⁸Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,

happy is the one who pays you back

what you have done to us.^z

⁹Happy is he who takes your little ones

and dashes them against the rocks.^aa

Psalm 138

A THANKFUL HEART

Of David.

¹I will give you thanks with all my heart;^ab

I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings.^Bac

²I will bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name

for your constant love and truth.

You have exalted your name

and your promise above everything else.^Aa

³On the day I called, you answered me;

you increased strength within me.^Bb

⁴All the kings on earth will give you thanks, Lord,

when they hear what you have promised.^Cc

⁵They will sing of the Lord’s ways,

for the Lord’s glory is great.^d

⁶Though the Lord is exalted,

he takes note of the humble;

but he knows the haughty from a distance.^e

⁷If I walk into the thick of danger,

you will preserve my life

from the anger of my enemies.^f

You will extend your hand;

your right hand will save me.^g

⁸The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.^h

Lord, your faithful love endures forever;

do not abandon the work of your hands.ⁱ