Bible for Soul
Book 19 of 66 · Poetry & Wisdom

PsalmsChapter 137 · Jerusalem and exile

9 verses1 sections1 min readPoetry & worshipComplete KJV text

Psalms 137 contains 9 verses in the King James Version. This page presents the complete chapter, a section-by-section outline, and direct links to every verse. Its recurring subjects include Jerusalem, exile, and Babylon.

Chapter at a glance

What is in Psalms 137?

The chapter opens, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.” It closes in verse 9, “Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.” The outline below follows the text in order.

Primary themes
JerusalemexileBabylon
Passage
Psalms 137:1–9
Reading time
About 1 minute · 166 words
Section-by-section outline

Psalms 137 outline

Read the full chapter
  1. Verses 1–9

    Jerusalem · Exile

    By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

King James Version · complete chapter

Psalms 137 KJV

1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? 5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 8O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.