Psalms 137

¹By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

Sat - The usual posture of mourners.

²We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

Harps - Harps are here put for all instruments of musick.

³For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

A song - Such songs as you used to sing in the temple of Zion.

⁴How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

The Lord’s - Those songs which were appointed by God to be sung only in his service.

⁶If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

If - If I do not value Jerusalem’s prosperity more than all other delights.

⁷Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

The day - In the time of its destruction.

⁸O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

Happy - As being God’s instrument to vindicate his honour, and execute his just judgments.