Psalm 137–138

A Lament of Israelites in Exile

137By the rivers of Babylon we sat down;

there we wept when we remembered Zion.

²On the willows near by

we hung up our harps.

³Those who captured us told us to sing;

they told us to entertain them:

“Sing us a song about Zion.”

⁴How can we sing a song to the Lord

in a foreign land?

⁵May I never be able to play the harp again

if I forget you, Jerusalem!

⁶May I never be able to sing again

if I do not remember you,

if I do not think of you as my greatest joy!

⁷Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did

the day Jerusalem was captured.

Remember how they kept saying,

“Tear it down to the ground!”

^8*Babylon, you will be destroyed.

Happy are those who pay you back

for what you have done to us-

⁹who take your babies

and smash them against a rock.

A Prayer of Thanksgivingⁿ

138 I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

I sing praise to you before the gods.

²I face your holy Temple,

bow down, and praise your name

because of your constant love and faithfulness,

because you have shown that your name and your commands are supreme.^o

³You answered me when I called to you;

with your strength you strengthened me.

⁴All the kings in the world will praise you, Lord,

because they have heard your promises.

⁵They will sing about what you have done

and about your great glory.

⁶Even though you are so high above,

you care for the lowly,

and the proud cannot hide from you.

⁷When I am surrounded by troubles,

you keep me safe.

You oppose my angry enemies

and save me by your power.

⁸You will do everything you have promised;

Complete the work that you have begun.