Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PSALM 137, by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PSALM 137, by                    
First Line: Nigh seated where the river flowes
Last Line: Shall take, and dashe against the stones.


Nigh seated where the river flowes
that watreth Babells thankfull plaine
which then our teares in pearled rowes
Did help to water with theire rayne
The thought of Sion bredd such woes,
that though our Harpes we did retaine
yet useles, and untouched there
On willowes onelie hang'd they were.

Nowe while our Harpes were hanged soe
the men whose captives then wee laie:
Did on oure griefes insulting growe,
and more to grieve us, thus did saie:
You that of musicke make such showe,
Come singe us now a Sion laie
O no, wee have nor voice nor hand
for such a songe in such a land.

Though farr I lie sweete Sion hill
in forraigne Soile exilde from thee:
Yet let my hand forgett his skill
if ever thou forgotten be
And let my tongue fast glued still
unto my roofe, lie mute in mee:
If thy neglect within mee spring
or ought I doe, but Salem singe.

But thou O Lord, shalt not forgett:
to quitt the paines of Edoms race:
whoe cawseleslie, yet hottlie sett
thy holie Cittie to deface.
Did thus the bloodie Victors whett
what time they entred first the place:
Downe, downe with it at anie hand
make all platt pais, let nothing stand.

And Babilon, that didst us waste,
thy selfe shall one daie wasted be:
And happie he, whoe what thou haste
unto us don, shall doe to thee.
Like bitternes shall make thee taste
like woefull objects cause thee see,
Yea happie whoe, thy litle ones
shall take, and dashe against the stones.





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