137 1 The people of God in their banishment seeing God’s true Religion decay, lived in great anguish and sorrow of heart: the which grief the Chaldeans did so little pity, 3 That they rather increased the same daily with taunts, reproaches and blasphemies against God. 7 Wherefore the Israelites desire God, first to punish the Edomites, who provoked the Babylonians against them, 8 And moved by the Spirit of God, prophesy the destruction of Babylon, where they were handled so tyrannously. 

By the rivers of Babel we [a]sat, and there we wept, when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst [b]thereof.

Then they that led us captive, [c]required of us songs and mirth, when we had hanged up our harps, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 137:1 That is, we abode a long time, and albeit that the country was pleasant, yet could not stay our tears, nor turn us from the true service of our God.
  2. Psalm 137:2 To wit, of that country.
  3. Psalm 137:3 The Babylonians speak thus in mocking us, as though by our silence we should signify that we hoped no more in God.

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon(A) we sat and wept(B)
    when we remembered Zion.(C)
There on the poplars(D)
    we hung our harps,(E)
for there our captors(F) asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded(G) songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(H)

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