Psalm 137–138

Psalm 137

Lament of the Exiles

¹By the rivers of Babylon—

there we sat down and wept

when we remembered Zion. ^y

²There we hung up our lyres

on the poplar trees, ^z

³for our captors there asked us for songs,

and our tormentors, for rejoicing:

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” ^a

⁴How can we sing the Lord’s song

on foreign soil? ^b

⁵If I forget you, Jerusalem,

may my right hand forget its skill. ^c

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! ^d

⁷Remember, Lord, what the Edomites said

that day ^eat Jerusalem:

“Destroy it! Destroy it

down to its foundations!” ^f

⁸Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,

happy is the one who pays you back

what you have done to us. ^g

⁹Happy is he who takes your little ones

and dashes them against the rocks. ^h

Psalm 138

A Thankful Heart

Davidic.

¹I will give You thanks with all my heart; ⁱ

I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings. ^jk

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. ^l

³On the day I called, You answered me;

You increased strength within me. ^mn

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

when they hear what You have promised. ^op

⁵They will sing of the Lord’s ways,

for the Lord’s glory is great. ^q

⁶Though the Lord is exalted,

He takes note of the humble;

but He knows the haughty from a distance. ^r

⁷If I walk into the thick of danger,

You will preserve my life

from the anger of my enemies. ^s

You will extend Your hand;

Your right hand will save me. ^t

⁸The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. ^u

Lord, Your love is eternal;

do not abandon the work of Your hands. ^v