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Psalm 137: Super flumina

Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 792. In the 30-day Psalter it is read on day 28, at Evening Prayer.

1

By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, *

when we remembered you, O Zion.

2

As for our harps, we hung them up *

on the trees in the midst of that land.

3

For those who led us away captive asked us for a song,

and our oppressors called for mirth: *

"Sing us one of the songs of Zion."

4

How shall we sing the LORD'S song *

upon an alien soil?

5

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, *

let my right hand forget its skill.

6

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth

if I do not remember you, *

if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.

7

Remember the day of Jerusalem, O LORD,

against the people of Edom, *

who said, "Down with it! down with it!

even to the ground!"

8

O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, *

happy the one who pays you back

for what you have done to us!

9

Happy shall he be who takes your little ones, *

and dashes them against the rock!

When it is appointed