Psalm 137

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Table of Psalms <<   Psalm 137   >>
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101 111 121 131 141	2 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92 102 112 122 132 142	3 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93 103 113 123 133 143	4 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94 104 114 124 134 144	5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145	6 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96 106 116 126 136 146	7 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97 107 117 127 137 147	8 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98 108 118 128 138 148	9 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99 109 119 129 139 149	10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

Contents 1 General Information 2 Settings by composers 2.1 of verse 1 only, in Latin 3 Texts & translations 3.1 Clementine Vulgate (Psalm 136) 3.2 Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer 3.3 English translation of verse 1 only

General Information

Verse 1 is the Offertory for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost.

Settings by composers

of verse 1 only, in Latin

• Joahnn Kaspar Aiblinger
• Orlando di Lasso
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
  • a 4
  • a 5
• Tomás Luis de Victoria

Texts & translations

Clementine Vulgate (Psalm 136)

Latin text

1 Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, cum recordaremur Sion.

2 In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra:

3 quia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos duxerunt nos, verba cantionum; et qui abduxerunt nos: Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.

4 Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?

5 Si oblitus fuero tui, Jerusalem, oblivioni detur dextera mea.

6 Adhæreat lingua mea faucibus meis, si non meminero tui; si non proposuero Jerusalem in principio lætitiæ meæ.

7 Memor esto, Domine, filiorum Edom, in die Jerusalem: qui dicunt: Exinanite, exinanite usque ad fundamentum in ea.

8 Filia Babylonis misera! beatus qui retribuet tibi retributionem tuam quam retribuisti nobis.

9 Beatus qui tenebit, et allidet parvulos tuos ad petram.

Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer

English text

1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept : when we remembered thee, O Sion.

2 As for our harps, we hanged them up : upon the trees that are therein.

3 For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, and melody in our heaviness : Sing us one of the songs of Sion.

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.

6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth : yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem in my mirth.

7 Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem : how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.

8 O daughter of Babylon , wasted with misery : yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.

9 Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children : and throweth them against the stones.

English translation of verse 1 only

English translation
Translation supplied by The St. Ann Choir, directed by William Mahrt.

By the waters of Babylon,

there we sat and wept,

when we remembered thee, O Zion.