Psalms 137:3
For there those who had taken us prisoners made request for a song; and those who had taken away all we had gave us orders to be glad, saying, Give us one of the songs of Zion.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
In Context
2Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.
4How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?
Cross References
1 Chronicles 15:27And David was clothed with a robe of fair linen, as were all the Levites who took up the ark, and those who made melody, and Chenaniah the master of those who made melody; and David had on a linen ephod;
Nehemiah 4:2And in the hearing of his countrymen and the army of Samaria he said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they make themselves strong? will they make offerings? will they get the work done in a day? will they make the stones which have been burned come again out of the dust?
Psalms 65:1To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. A Song.
Psalms 80:6\80:5\You have given them the bread of weeping for food; for their drink you have given them sorrow in great measure.
Proverbs 25:20Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
Isaiah 51:11Those whom the Lord has made free will come back with songs to Zion; and on their heads will be eternal joy: delight and joy will be theirs, and sorrow and sounds of grief will be gone for ever.
Matthew Henry on Psalms 137:2-7
The Sorrows of Captivity. 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For 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. 4 How shall we sing the Lord 's song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof… Read the whole commentary →