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Psalm 137
New King James Version

### Longing for Zion in a Foreign Land

137 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who (A)plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget its skill!
6 If I do not remember you,
Let my (B)tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

7 Remember, O Lord, against (C)the sons of Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Who said, [a]“Raze it, raze it,
To its very foundation!”

8 O daughter of Babylon, (D)who are to be destroyed,
Happy the one (E)who repays you as you have served us!
9 Happy the one who takes and (F)dashes
Your little ones against the rock!

#### Footnotes

1. Psalm 137:7 Lit. Make bare

#### Cross references

1. Psalm 137:3 : Ps. 79:1
2. Psalm 137:6 : Job 29:10; Ps. 22:15; Ezek. 3:26
3. Psalm 137:7 : Jer. 49:7–22; Lam. 4:21; Ezek. 25:12–14; 35:2; Amos 1:11; Obad. 10–14
4. Psalm 137:8 : Is. 13:1–6; 47:1
5. Psalm 137:8 : Jer. 50:15; Rev. 18:6
6. Psalm 137:9 : 2 Kin. 8:12; Is. 13:16; Hos. 13:16; Nah. 3:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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