Psalms 137:4–6
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
†How shall we sing the LORDs song: in a strange land?
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- †Hebrew wordingHeb. land of a stranger.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
If I forget thee, O Ierusalem: 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.
†If I doe not remember thee, let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth; if I preferre not Ierusalem aboue my chiefe ioy.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- †Hebrew wordingHeb. the head of my ioy.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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15 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 4
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.
3And the †songs of the Temples shalbe howlings in that day, sayth the LORD God: there shall be many dead bodies in euery place, they shall cast them foorth †with silence.
- Isaiah 22:12Rank 2 from verse 4
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.
4They shall not offer wine offrings to the LORD: neither shall they be pleasing vnto him: their sacrifices shalbe vnto them as the bread of mourners: all that eate thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soule shall not come into the house of the LORD.
- Lamentations 5:14–15Rank 4 from verse 4
- Ecclesiastes 3:4Rank 5 from verse 4
- Isaiah 49:21Rank 6 from verse 4
21Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
21Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I haue lost my children and am desolate, a captiue and remouing to and fro? and who hath brought vp these? Beholde, I was left alone, these where had they beene?
From verse 5
- Daniel 6:10–11Rank 1 from verse 5
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.
10¶ **Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, hee went into his house, and his windowes being open in his chamber toward Ierusalem, hee kneeled vpon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gaue thankes before his God, as hee did afore time.
11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying, and making supplication before his God.
- Jeremiah 51:50Rank 2 from verse 5
- Isaiah 62:1Rank 3 from verse 5
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.
1¶ For Zions sake, wil I not hold my peace, and for Ierusalems sake I will not rest, vntill the righteousnesse thereof goe forth as brightnesse, and the saluation thereof as a lampe that burneth;
- Psalms 122:5–9Rank 4 from verse 5
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†For there are set thrones of iudgment: the thrones of the house of Dauid.
6Pray for the peace of Ierusalem: they shall prosper that loue thee.
7Peace be within thy walles: and prosperitie 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 seeke thy good.
- Psalms 84:10Rank 5 from verse 5
- Zechariah 11:17Rank 6 from verse 5
17Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
17*Woe to the idoll shepheard that leaueth the flocke: the sword shall be vpon his arme, and vpon his right eye: his arme shall be cleane dryed vp, and his right eye shall be vtterly darkened.
- Isaiah 62:6–7Rank 7 from verse 5
6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,
7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
6‖I haue set watchmen vpon thy walles, O Ierusalem, which shall neuer hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keepe not silence:
7†And giue him no rest till he establish, and till hee make Ierusalem a praise in the earth.
- Nehemiah 1:2–4Rank 8 from verse 5
2That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
4¶ And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
2That Hanani, one of my brethren came, he and certaine men of Iudah, and I asked them concerning the Iewes that had escaped, which were left of the captiuitie, and concerning Ierusalem.
3And they said vnto me, The remnant that are left of the captiuitie there in the prouince, are in great affliction and reproch: the wall of Ierusalem also* is broken downe, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.
4¶ And it came to passe when I heard these words, that I sate downe and wept, and mourned certaine dayes, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heauen,
- Nehemiah 2:2–3Rank 9 from verse 5
2Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
2Wherefore the king said vnto me, Why is thy countenance sadde, seeing thou art not sicke? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3And said vnto the king, Let the king liue for euer: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers Sepulchres, lyeth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
- Psalms 102:13–14Rank 10 from verse 5
13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
13Thou shalt arise, and haue mercie vpon Zion: for the time to fauour her, yea the set time is come.
14For thy seruants take pleasure in her stones: and fauour the dust therof.
- Psalms 84:1–2Rank 11 from verse 5
1HOW amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
1¶ How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hostes!
2My soule longeth, yea euen fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the liuing God.
From verse 6
- Ezekiel 3:26Rank 1 from verse 6
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.
26†And I will make thy tongue cleaue to the roofe of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumme and shalt not be to them a reprouer: for they are a rebellious house.
- Psalms 22:15Rank 2 from verse 6
- Isaiah 41:17Rank 3 from verse 6
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.
17 When the poore and needie seeke water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will heare them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
- Psalms 84:10Rank 5 from verse 6
- Lamentations 4:4Rank 6 from verse 6
- 1 Thessalonians 3:7–9Rank 7 from verse 6
7Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
7Therefore brethren, wee were comforted ouer you in all our affliction and distresse, by your faith:
8For now we *liue, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9For what thankes can we render to God againe for you, for all the ioy wherewith wee ioy for your sakes before our God,
- Acts 20:24Rank 8 from verse 6
24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
24But none of these things mooue me, neither count I my life deare vnto my self, so that I might finish my course with ioy, & the ministery which I haue receiued of the Lord Iesus, to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God.
- Matthew 6:33Rank 9 from verse 6
- Philippians 1:20Rank 10 from verse 6
20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
20According to my earnest expectation, and my hope, that in nothing I shalbe ashamed: but that with all boldnes, as alwayes, so now also Christ shal be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
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DEFINED WORDS
Psalms 137:4
An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
To produce musical sounds with the voice; to celebrate, praise, or tell in song.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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
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
Foreign; belonging to another country. Wonderful; causing surprise; exciting curiosity.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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
To fail or cease to remember; to lose from mind; to neglect or disregard.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Sense 1: To split or divide. Sense 2: To cling closely or remain joined.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
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
To esteem or choose above another.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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
Sense 1: Gladness, delight, or rejoicing. Sense 2: To rejoice, delight, or be glad.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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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.
3††For there they that carried vs away captiue, required of vs a song, and they that wasted vs, required of vs mirth: saying, Sing vs one of the songs of Zion.
4How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
4†How shall we sing the LORDs song: in a strange land?
Selected passage5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
5If I forget thee, O Ierusalem: let my right hand forget her cunning.
Selected passage6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
6†If I doe not remember thee, let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth; if I preferre not Ierusalem aboue my chiefe ioy.
Selected passage7Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
7†Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom, in the day of Ierusalem; who sayd, rase it, rase it: euen to the foundation thereof.