Psalm 137–138

Psalm 137

¹We were sitting by the rivers of Babylon.

We cried when we remembered what had happened to Zion.

²On the nearby poplar trees

we hung up our harps.

³Those who held us as prisoners asked us to sing.

Those who enjoyed hurting us ordered us to sing joyful songs.

They said, “Sing one of the songs of Zion to us!”

⁴How can we sing the songs of the Lord

while we are in another land?

⁵Jerusalem, if I forget you,

may my right hand never be able to play the harp again.

⁶If I don’t remember you,

may my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth so I can’t sing.

May it happen if I don’t consider Jerusalem

to be my greatest joy.

⁷Lord, remember what the people of Edom did

on the day Jerusalem fell.

“Tear it down!” they cried.

“Tear it down to the ground!”

⁸People of Babylon, you are sentenced to be destroyed.

Happy are those who pay you back

for what you have done to us.

⁹Happy are those who grab your babies

and smash them against the rocks.

Psalm 138

A psalm of David.

¹Lord, I will praise you with all my heart.

In front of those who think they are gods

I will sing praise to you.

²I will bow down facing your holy temple.

I will praise your name,

because you are loving and faithful.

You have honored your name and your word

more than anything else.

³When I called out to you, you answered me.

You made me strong and brave.

⁴Lord, may all of the kings on earth praise you

when they hear about what you have promised.

⁵Lord, may they sing about what you have done,

because your glory is great.

⁶The Lord is in heaven. But he watches over those who are free of pride.

He knows those who are proud and stays far away from them.

⁷Trouble is all around me,

but you keep me alive.

You reach out your hand to put a stop to the anger of my enemies.

With your powerful right hand you save me.

⁸Lord, you will do everything you have planned for me.

Lord, your faithful love continues forever.

You have done so much for us. Don’t stop now.