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Psalm 138

Psalm

138 When we had been taken to Babylonia far from Jerusalem,

we sat down by the rivers there,

and we cried when we thought about the temple on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

2 On the willow trees alongside the rivers we hung our harps

because we did not want to play them anymore and because we were very sad.

3 The soldiers who had captured us and taken us to Babylonia forced us to sing for them;

they told us to entertain them; they said,

“Sing for us one of the songs that you previously sang in Jerusalem!”

4 But we thought to ourselves,

“We are sad because we have been punished by Yahweh and brought to this foreign land;

we cannot sing songs about Yahweh while we are here!”

5 If I forget about Jerusalem, I hope that my right hand will wither

so that I will be unable to play my harp!

6 I hope that I will not be able to sing again

if I forget about Jerusalem,

if I do not consider that Jerusalem causes me to be more joyful than anything else does.

7 Yahweh, punish the people of the Edom people group

for what they did on the day that the army of Babylon captured Jerusalem.

Do not forget that they said,

“Tear down all the buildings! Destroy them completely! Leave only the foundations!”

8 You people of Babylon, you will certainly be destroyed!

How fortunate are those who punish you for what you did to us;

9 How fortunate are those who take your babies

and smash them to pieces on the rocks.

Psalm

A psalm written by David.

138 Yahweh, I thank you with all my inner being.

I sing to praise you, even though many people worship idols.

2 When I look toward your sacred temple, I bow down

and thank you because you faithfully love us and do all that you have promised.

You have given cause for people everywhere to honor you and what you have said more than anything else.

3 When I called out to you, you answered me;

you enabled me to be strong and brave.

4 Yahweh, someday all the kings of this earth will praise you

because they will have heard what you have said.

5 They will sing about what you have done;

they will sing and say that you are very great.

6 Yahweh, you are supreme,

but you take care of people who are considered to be unimportant.

However, you do not show yourself to proud people as faithful.

7 When I am in the middle of many troubles,

you save me.

With your hand you rescue me from my enemies who are angry at me.

8 Yahweh, you will do for me everything that you promised;

you faithfully love us forever.

Finish what you started to do for us, your Israelite people!