Psalm 137
Super flumina
1
By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, *
when we remembered you, O Zion.
2
As for our harps, we hung them up *
on the trees in the midst of that land.
3
For those who led us away captive asked us for a song,
and our oppressors called for mirth: *
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”
4
How shall we sing the Lord’s song *
upon an alien soil?
5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, *
let my right hand forget its skill.
6
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you, *
if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.
Psalm 144
Benedictus Dominus
1
Blessed be the Lord my rock! *
who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;
2
My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, *
my shield in whom I trust,
who subdues the peoples under me.
3
O Lord, what are we that you should care for us? *
mere mortals that you should think of us?
4
We are like a puff of wind; *
our days are like a passing shadow.
5
Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down; *
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6
Hurl the lightning and scatter them; *
shoot out your arrows and rout them.
7
Stretch out your hand from on high; *
rescue me and deliver me from the great waters,
from the hand of foreign peoples,
8
Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
9
O God, I will sing to you a new song; *
I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.
10
You give victory to kings *
and have rescued David your servant.
11
Rescue me from the hurtful sword *
and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,
12
Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
13
May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, *
and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.
14
May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops; *
may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands;
may our cattle be fat and sleek.
15
May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, *
no wailing in the public squares.
16
Happy are the people of whom this is so! *
happy are the people whose God is the Lord!