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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Psalms 137:4–6

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 4

  1. Amos 8:3Rank 1 from verse 4
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    3And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.

  2. Isaiah 22:12Rank 2 from verse 4
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    12And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

  3. Hosea 9:4Rank 3 from verse 4
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    4They shall not offer wine offerings to the Lord, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the Lord.

  4. Lamentations 5:14–15Rank 4 from verse 4
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    14The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.

    15The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.

  5. Ecclesiastes 3:4Rank 5 from verse 4
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    4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

From verse 5

  1. Daniel 6:10–11Rank 1 from verse 5
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    10¶ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

    11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

  2. Jeremiah 51:50Rank 2 from verse 5
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    50Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

  3. Isaiah 62:1Rank 3 from verse 5
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    1FOR Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

  4. Psalms 122:5–9Rank 4 from verse 5
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    5For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

    6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

    7Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

    8For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

    9Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.

  5. Psalms 84:10Rank 5 from verse 5
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    10For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

From verse 6

  1. Ezekiel 3:26Rank 1 from verse 6
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    26And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.

  2. Psalms 22:15Rank 2 from verse 6
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    15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

  3. Isaiah 41:17Rank 3 from verse 6
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    17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

  4. Job 29:10Rank 4 from verse 6
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    10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

  5. Psalms 84:10Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    10For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Psalms 137:4

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

sing

↗

To produce musical sounds with the voice; to celebrate, praise, or tell in song.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Lord

↗

1. A title of God or Jesus Christ acknowledging authority and rule. 2. A respectful title or address for one in authority.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

strange

↗

Foreign; belonging to another country. Wonderful; causing surprise; exciting curiosity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

land

↗

Sense 1: The ground or earth; a country, territory, or region. Sense 2: To set or come on shore.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Psalms 137:5

COMBINED MEANING

forget

↗

To fail or cease to remember; to lose from mind; to neglect or disregard.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

right

↗

1. Correct, just, upright, proper, lawful, fitting, true, or due; also a rightful claim or authority. 2. The direction or side opposite the left. 3. Straight, favourable, skilful, or approved. 4. Very, quite, or fully.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cunning

↗

Skilful, expert, knowledgeable, ingenious, or artfully made in a craft, work, music, hunting, or another practice; where joined to deceit, subtly artful.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Psalms 137:6

COMBINED MEANING

remember

↗

1. To retain in mind or call back to mind; to recall. 2. To keep in mind with heed, observance, commemoration, or corresponding action. 3. To take account of a person, promise, deed, sin, or need and act with regard to it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

tongue

↗

1. The organ of the mouth used for tasting and speech. 2. Speech, words, or a language. 3. A tongue-shaped projection or arm of land or water.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cleave

↗

Sense 1: To split or divide. Sense 2: To cling closely or remain joined.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

mouth

↗

Sense 1: The bodily opening used for eating, breathing, and speaking. Sense 2: The opening or entrance of a thing. Sense 3: Speech, utterance, or the agency of speaking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

chief

↗

1. First, principal, highest, leading, greatest, most excellent, most important, or most responsible in rank, order, degree, value, or guilt. 2. A leader, head, principal ruler, officer, or principal member of a group.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

joy

↗

Sense 1: Gladness, delight, or rejoicing. Sense 2: To rejoice, delight, or be glad.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

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?

Selected passage

5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

Selected passage

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.

Selected passage

7Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

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