Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

137 By the rivers in Babylon we sat and cried
    when we remembered Jerusalem.
² On the poplar trees nearby
    we hung our harps.
³ Those who captured us asked us to sing.
    Our enemies wanted happy songs.
    They said, “Sing us a Temple song from Jerusalem!”

5 Remember, Lord, what happened to us.
    Look and see our disgrace.
² Our land has been turned over to strangers.
    Our houses have been given to foreigners.
³ We have become orphans with no father.
    Our mothers have become like widows.
⁴ We have to buy the water we drink.
    We must pay for the wood for our fires.
⁵ They work us hard as if we were animals with a yoke on our necks.
    We get tired and have no rest.
⁶ We made an agreement with Egypt
    and with Assyria to get enough food.
⁷ Our ancestors sinned against you. But they are gone.
    Now we must suffer because of their sins.
⁸ Slaves have become our rulers.
    There is no one who can save us from them.
⁹ We risk our lives to get our food
    because there are men with swords in the desert.
¹⁰ Our skin is hot like an oven.
    We burn with fever because of the terrible hunger.
¹¹ The enemy raped the women of Jerusalem
    and the girls in the cities of Judah.
¹² The enemy hung our princes by the hands.
    They do not honor our elders.
¹³ The young men grind grain at the mill.
    Boys stumble while carrying loads of wood.
¹⁴ The elders no longer sit at the city gates.
    The young men no longer make music.
¹⁵ We have no more joy in our hearts.
    Our dancing has turned into sadness.
¹⁶ The glory has gone from Jerusalem.
    How terrible it is for us because we have sinned.
¹⁷ Because of this we are afraid.
    Because of these things our eyes are dim.
¹⁸ Mount Zion is empty.
    Now wild dogs wander around it.