Friday, January 28, 2011

Day 28 — Psalm 137

HEBREW
PSALM 137
Ballad of the exiles

Beside the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
at the memory of Zion,
leaving our harps
hanging on the poplars there.

For we had been asked
to sing to our captors,
to entertain those who had carried us off:
‘Sing,’ they said,
‘some hymns of Zion.’

How could we sing
one of Yahweh's hymns
in a pagan country?
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
may my right hand wither!

May I never speak again,
if I forget you!
If I do not count Jerusalem
the greatest of my joys!

Yahweh, remember
what the sons of Edom did
on the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, ‘Down with her!
Raze her to the ground!’

Destructive daughter of Babel,
a blessing on the man who treats you
as you have treated us,
a blessing on him who takes and dashes
your babies against the rock!

Next… Psalm 138

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