PSALM 137
OPENING COMMENT: Vv. 7-9 of the psalm (st. 5-6 in Setting B, the last third of st. 2 in Setting A) strike many of us as gruesome and barbaric. I am sure this is one of those texts John Wesley would have agreed is not suitable to be read in public worship. In light of the 2001 attacks on the United States, these verses are even more sobering. They indeed may express the feelings of many people. There will be some who decide to use only the first six verses of the psalm. If you do use vv. 7-9, I would strongly suggest preaching on this text. It is indeed appropriate to express our feelings of rage. It is not appropriate to act on them in destructive ways. --DAS
SETTING A
METER: 15 15 15 6 16 14
TUNE: BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
1. By the Bablyonian waters, there we sat down and we wept,
As our mem'ries turned to Zion, on the willows hung our lyres.
For our captors forced us to sing, and tormentors wanted mirth:
"Sing one of Zion's songs!"
How shall we sing songs of Yahweh exiled in a foreign country?
If I forget you, Jerus'lem, let my right hand shrink away.
2. Let my tongue stick to my palate if I don't remember you,
If I do not set Jerus'lem over ev'ry other joy!
Lord, remember against Edom what they cried at Zion's fall,
"Tear it down to the ground!"
Babylon, you devastator! Happy those who do you vengeance.
Happy those who take your children and smash them on the rocks.
Copyright 2004 Dale A. Schoening.
SETTING B
METER: 87 87
SUGGESTED TUNES: CHARLESTOWN or GALILEE
This is the meter of such hymns as "Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow" and "Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult"
1. By the Babylonian waters,
There we sat down and we wept,
As our mem'ries turned to Zion,
On the willows hung our lyres.
2. For our captors forced us to sing,
And tormentors wanted mirth,
So they all demanded of us,
"Sing us one of Zion's songs!"
3. How shall we sing songs of Yahweh
Exiled in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerus'lem,
Let my right hand shrink away.
4. Let my tongue cleave to my palate,
If I don't remember you,
If I do not set Jerus'lem
Above ev'ry other joy!
5. Lord, remember against Edom
What they did at Zion's fall,
How they cried out, "Raze it, raze it,
Tear it clear down to the ground!"
6. Babylon, you devastator!
Happy those who pay you back.
Happy those who take your children
And smash them against a rock.
Stanzas 1-4 reprinted by permission of the publisher from Sing the Psalms! by Dale A. Schoening. Copyright 1988 Dale A. Schoening. Stnazas 5-6 reprinted by permission of the publisher from Supplementary Volume to Sing the Psalms by Dale A. Schoening. Copyright 1992 Dale A. Schoening.
