The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 137
PSALM CXXXVII.
ARGUMENT.
This is a mournfull Song, compoſed by ſome of the captive Levites in Babylon; when he reflected upon their ſad parting with their dear Country, and the ſcorn wherewith their inſulting Enemies treated them, in that ſtrange land. Which he foreſaw God would ſeverely puniſh, by the hand of ſome other cruel People: who ſhould ſhew them as little mercy, as they had ſhewed the Iſraelites.
The vulgar Latine aſcribes this Pſalm to Jeremiah: upon which Inſcription, Theodoret (who found it alſo in ſome Greek Copies in his time) paſſes this cenſure; that the bold Authour of it wanted wit, as the Inſcription it ſelf openly proclaims: for Jeremiah was not carried captive into Babylon; but, when he had ſtaid ſome time in Judea, was compelled by the diſobedient Jews to go down with them into Egypt. Yet there are thoſe, who to excuſe this, would have us think that Jeremiah ſent this Pſalm to the Captives in Babylon: and that it is called a Pſalm of David; (for ſo it is in the vulgar Latine alſo) becauſe made after the example of his Pſalms: As Virgil ſaid he ſung Aſcroeum carmen among the Romans; when he made his Georgicks in imitation of Heſiod.
In the Paraphraſe of the firſt Verſe I have followed a conjecture of Saint Chryſoſtom's: that the Captives were not ſuffered (at their firſt coming thither) to dwell within any of their Towns or Cities; but were diſperſed all along ſeveral Rivers of the Country; where they built Tabernacles or Cottages for themſelves: and perhaps were forced to drain thoſe moiſt places, to make them wholeſome.
1. BY the rivers of Babylon, there we ſat down, yea, we wept, when we remembred Sion.
1. WHen we were tranſported from our own Country into the Land of Babylon, and had the ſides of Euphrates, and ſeveral of its Rivers (I. Ezek. 1.) aſſigned for our habitation, there we ſate down in a ſorrowfull poſture; and could not refrain from tears, when we called to mind the happy days which we enjoyed in the holy Hill of Sion.
2. We hanged our harps upon the willows, in the midſt thereof.
2. We brought our harps along with us, wherewith we were wont to praiſe the Lord: (1 Chron. XV. 16.) But, as our fruitfull vines and figtrees, under which we formerly ſate, were turned into barren willows and oſiers; ſo all our mirth and joy was turned into ſuch heavineſs and ſorrow of heart, that we let all our Inſtruments of Muſick hang neglected, upon the boughs of thoſe dolefull trees.
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 Sion.
3. For when our new Maſters, who had carried us away captive, they that had laid Jeruſalem on heaps, and had power to doe what they pleaſed with us, required us (between jeſt and earneſt) to entertain them with our Muſick; and to let them hear one of thoſe Songs, which were wont to be ſung in the Temple;
4. How ſhall we ſing the LORD's ſong in a ſtrange land?
4. Neither fear nor favour could extort this ſervice from our Levites, but they reſolutely anſwered; As thoſe Songs were not made for paſtime and ſport, but in honour of the great Lord of the world; So how can you imagin that miſerable ſlaves are diſpoſed to ſing? and to ſing thoſe Songs in the Land where we are exiles; which recount the mercies of God unto us, in our once moſt flouriſhing Countrey?
5. If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem, let my right hand forget her cunning
5. No (ſaid I then within my ſelf) if I forget thy deſolations, O Jeruſalem, (though never ſo far removed from thee) ſo as to gratifie their deſires, by prophaning thy Muſick and thy Songs; then let my right hand be benummed, or quite loſe its skill of touching the harp any more.
6. 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.
6. Let me be ſtruck dumb, and never be able to move my tongue; if I be not ſo mindfull of thee, as never to ſing again; till I ſee Jeruſalem, and her holy Solemnities reſtored.
7. Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom, in the day of Jeruſalem; who ſaid, Raſe it, raſe it, even to the foundation thereof.
7. Which joyfull day I hope will come; when Thou, O Lord, wilt call our enemies to an account: And, firſt of all, reckon with the Edomites, (XLIX. Jer. 10. XXV. Ezek. 12.) who inſtead of pitying Jeruſalem, as became kind neighbours and relations, were glad to ſee the day of its deſolations; and incouraged our deſtroyers with their acclamations, ſaying; Lay it flat, lay it even with the ground upon which it ſtands.
8. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be deſtroyed: happy ſhall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou haſt ſerved us.
8. And then ſhall your turns come, O ye Babylonians; who have laid waſte ſo many Nations, but ſhall, one day, be made deſolate your ſelves, (XIII. Iſa. 19, &c.) And may that Prince and people proſper and be happy, (L. Jer. 9, 41.) who ſhall pay you in your kind; and uſe you as barbarouſly, as you uſed us, (LI. Jer. 24, 35, 49.)
9. Happy ſhall he be that taketh and daſheth thy little ones againſt the ſtones.
9. He ſhall be praiſed, and thought to have done a worthy work, who ſhall ſnatch your ſucking children from their mothers breaſts; and have no more mercy on them, then upon the whelps of wolves, or ſuch like creatures: but ſhall daſh out their brains, againſt the walls of your houſes, or ſtones in the ſtreet, (XIII. Iſa. 16.) that there may be no remains of ſuch a cruel generation, LI. Jer. 62.