Psalm 137:3 “for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs…”

Psalm 137:3

for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

American Standard Version

For there they that led us captive required of us songs, And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then they that ledde vs captiues, required of vs songs and mirth, when wee had hanged vp our harpes, saying, Sing vs one of the songs of Zion.

Darby Translation

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that made us wail [required] mirth, [saying,] Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.

Young's Literal Translation

For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers — joy: 'Sing ye to us of a song of Zion.'

Bible in Basic English

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.

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Cross references

“For there”

Psalm 123:3 Psalm 123:4 Lamentations 2:15 Lamentations 2:16

Psalm 123:3 · BSB

Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.

Psalm 123:4 · BSB

We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.

Lamentations 2:15 · BSB

All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?”

Lamentations 2:16 · BSB

All your enemies open their mouths against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying, “We have swallowed her up. This is the day for which we have waited. We have lived to see it!”

“a song”

Luke 21:6 Micah 3:12 Psalm 79:1 Nehemiah 4:2 Jeremiah 9:11 Jeremiah 26:18

Luke 21:6 · BSB

“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Micah 3:12 · BSB

Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

Psalm 79:1 · BSB

The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

Nehemiah 4:2 · BSB

before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt st…

Jeremiah 9:11 · BSB

“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

Jeremiah 26:18 · BSB

“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,…

“the songs of Zion”

Psalm 9:14 Psalm 65:1 1 Chronicles 16:7 Isaiah 35:10 Revelation 14:1–3 1 Chronicles 15:27

Psalm 9:14 · BSB

that I may declare all Your praises— that within the gates of Daughter Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalm 65:1 · BSB

Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion; to You our vows will be fulfilled.

1 Chronicles 16:7 · BSB

On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:

Isaiah 35:10 · BSB

So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Revelation 14:1–3 · BSB

Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

1 Chronicles 15:27 · BSB

Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

Also

Psalm 80:6

Psalm 80:6 · BSB

You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

2There on the willows we hung our harps,

4How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?

Read Psalm 137