The Book of Psalms

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- Kapitel 137 -

By the rivers of Babylon

(Ezekiel 1:1-3)

A Psalm of David: to Jeremiah. Above the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept, while we remembered Zion.(a)

By the willow trees, in their midst, we hung up our instruments.

For, in that place, those who led us into captivity questioned us about the words of the songs. And those who carried us away said: “Sing us a hymn from the songs of Zion.”

How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?

If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.

May my tongue adhere to my jaws, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem first, as the beginning of my joy.

O Lord, call to mind the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, who say: “Despoil it, despoil it, even to its foundation.”

O daughter of Babylon, have pity. Blessed is he who will repay you with your payment, which you have paid to us.(b)

Blessed is he who will take hold of your little ones and dash them against the rock.(c)

Fußnoten

(a)136:1 For Jeremias:For the time of Jeremias, and the captivity of Babylon.(Challoner)

(b)136:8 This first part can be read as: ‘O daughter of Babylon, have pity,’ or as: ‘O pitiable (miserable) daughter of Babylon.’(Conte)

(c)136:9 Dash thy little ones, etc:In the spiritual sense, we dash the little ones of Babylon against the rock, when we mortify our passions, and stifle the first motions of them, by a speedy recourse to the rock which is Christ.(Challoner)

By the rivers of Babylon

(Ezekiel 1:1-3)

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.

For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

How can we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Remember, LORD, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”

Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us.

Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.