Psalms 137:5
“If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.”
Psalms 137:5 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her skill .
- DARBYDarby
- If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill;
- WEBThe World English Bible
- If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!
- BPVBiblePics Version
- If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its skill.
Context: Psalms 137
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.
4How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
About Psalms 137: A Lament for Exile
Psalm 137 expresses the sorrowful feelings of the Israelites who were taken captive to Babylon. The psalmist laments being forced to leave their homeland and the pain of not being able to worship in the temple. The psalm ends with a passionate cry for God to avenge their suffering.
Commentary
Psalm 137 is a poignant reminder of the pain of displacement and the yearning for a sense of belonging. The psalmist's words capture the deep heartache that comes with forced migration and the sense of loss that accompanies it. The psalm also exposes the difficulty of holding onto faith and hope in the face of unimaginable suffering. However, the psalmist's plea for God's intervention in the midst of their pain resonates with us today. It reminds us that, no matter how trying our circumstances may be, we can always turn to God and seek comfort in His presence.