Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 137 » Verse 4

Psalms 137:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?


Psalms 137:4 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

4 How shall we sing H7891 the LORD'S H3068 song H7892 in a strange H5236 land? H127


Psalms 137:4 American Standard (ASV)

4 How shall we sing Jehovah's song In a foreign land?


Psalms 137:4 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?


Psalms 137:4 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

4 How should we sing a song of Jehovah's upon a foreign soil?


Psalms 137:4 World English Bible (WEB)

4 How can we sing Yahweh's song in a foreign land?


Psalms 137:4 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

4 How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?

Cross Reference

Lamentations 5:14-15 KJV

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick. The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.

Commentary on Psalms 137 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 137

Ps 137:1-9. This Psalm records the mourning of the captive Israelites, and a prayer and prediction respecting the destruction of their enemies.

1. rivers of Babylon—the name of the city used for the whole country.

remembered Zion—or, Jerusalem, as in Ps 132:13.

2. upon the willows—which may have grown there then, if not now; as the palm, which was once common, is now rare in Palestine.

3, 4. Whether the request was in curiosity or derision, the answer intimates that a compliance was incongruous with their mournful feelings (Pr 25:20).

5, 6. For joyful songs would imply forgetfulness of their desolated homes and fallen Church. The solemn imprecations on the hand and tongue, if thus forgetful, relate to the cunning or skill in playing, and the power of singing.

7-9. Remember … the children of Edom—(Compare Ps 132:1), that is, to punish.

the day of Jerusalem—its downfall (La 4:21, 22; Ob 11-13).

8. daughter of Babylon—the people (Ps 9:13). Their destruction had been abundantly foretold (Isa 13:14; Jer 51:23). For the terribleness of that destruction, God's righteous judgment, and not the passions of the chafed Israelites, was responsible.