Psalm 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
1 By the waters of Babylon we 3 sat | down and | wept, ||
when we re- | membered | thee, O | Sion. ||
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
2 As for our harps, we hanged them up upon the | trees that | are there•in. ||
3 For they that led us away captive, required of us then a | song, and | melody • in our | heavi•ness: ||
3 For 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.
Sing us one of the | songs of | Sion. ||
4 How shall we sing the Lord's | song • in a | strange | land? ||
4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
5 If I for- | get thee, • O Je- | rusa•lem, ||
let my | right • hand for- | get her | cunning. ||
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the | 3 roof of my | mouth; ||
yea, if I prefer not Je- | rusa•lem a- | bove • my chief | joy. ||
7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
7 Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the | 3 day of Je- | rusa•lem; ||
how they said, Down with it, | down • with it, | even • to the | ground. ||
8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
8 O daughter of Babylon, | 3 wasted with | miser•y; ||
yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth | thee as | thou hast • served | us. ||
9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
9 Blessed shall he be that | 3 taketh thy | children, ||
and | throweth • them a- | gainst the | stones. ||
About the Pointing
The text of the Coverdale Psalter follows the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer. The pointing, suitably adapted, is taken from Charles Macpherson, Edward C. Bairstow, and Percy C. Buck, The English Psalter (Novello & Co., 1925).