Psalms 137

1 By the rivers [of captivity, in a foreign land] of Babylon [a city of confusion, Babel] we sat [down, to dwell, to remain] and wept [with grief, in sorrow] when we remembered [thought of, recalled] Zion [the mountain of God, the city of Jerusalem]. word study 2 There [in that place, on the banks] on the willows [by the waterside, poplar trees] we hung [suspended, to hang] our harps [lyres, musical instruments] [in the midst thereof, alongside the rivers], word study 3 for there [in that place, at that time] our captors [those who took us captive, oppressors] requested [asked, demanded] a song [musical expression, hymn]; our tormentors [those who caused us suffering, oppressors] demanded [required, insisted on] songs of joy [expressions of gladness, celebrations]: “Sing us [perform for us, entertain us] a song [hymn, musical praise] of Zion [Jerusalem, the city of God].” word study 4 How [in what manner, by what means] can we sing [give voice to, melodiously praise] a song [hymn, musical expression] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] in a foreign [strange] land [earth, soil, territory]? word study 5 If [whether or not] I forget [mislay, be oblivious to] you, O Jerusalem [the city of peace], may my right hand [the instrument of skill] cease to function [forget her cunning, lose its skill]. word study 6 May my tongue [cleave to, stick to] cling to the roof of my mouth [palate, upper mouth] if I do not [fail to, forget to] remember [recall, mark] you, if I do not [refuse to, neglect to] exalt [elevate, lift up] Jerusalem [the city of peace, the holy city] as my greatest [chief, supreme] joy [gladness, delight]! word study 7 Remember [to recall, mark], O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the sons [descendants, children] of Edom [the region, twin brother of Jacob] on the day [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine] fell: “Destroy [tear down, rase] it,” they said [spoke, commanded], “tear it down [uncover, make bare] to its foundations [the base, starting point]!” word study 8 O Daughter [woman, female child] of Babylon [city of confusion], doomed [worthy, destined] to destruction [ruin, devastation], blessed [happy, joyful] is he who repays [rewards, gives recompense] you as you have done [served, treated] to us [namely, to the people of God]. word study 9 Blessed [truly happy, fortunate] is he who seizes [takes hold of, grasps] your infants [little ones, young children] and dashes [shatters, scatters] them against [toward, on] the rocks [craggy cliffs, solid stones]. word study