Psalms 137
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 137 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
8 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Psalms 137
1(138) A Psalm for David, of Aggaeus and Zacharias. I will give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; and I will sing psalms to you before the angels; for you have heard all the words of my mouth.Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ, Ἀγγαίου καὶ Ζαχαρίου. Ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι Κύριε ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου, καὶ ἐναντίον ἀγγέλων ψαλῶ σοι, ὅτι ἤκουσας πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου.
2I will worship toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your name, on account of your mercy and your truth; for you have magnified your holy name above every thing.Προσκυνήσω πρὸς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου, καὶ ἐξομολογήσομαι τῷ ὀνόματί σου, ἐπὶ τῷ ἐλέει σου καὶ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου· ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνας ἐπὶ πᾶν τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἅγιόν σου.
3In whatever day I shall call upon you, hear me speedily; you shall abundantly provide me with your power in my soul.Ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπικαλέσωμαί σε, ταχὺ ἐπάκουσόν μου· πολυωρήσεις με ἐν ψυχῇ μου δυνάμει σου.
4Let all the kings of the earth, o Lord, give thanks to you; for they have heard all the words of your mouth.Ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι Κύριε πάντες οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἤκουσαν πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός σου.
5And let them sing in the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord.Καὶ ᾀσάτωσαν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς Κυρίου, ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ δόξα Κυρίου.
6For the Lord is high, and yet regards the lowly; and he knows high things from afar off.Ὅτι ὑψηλὸς Κύριος, καὶ τὰ ταπεινὰ ἐφορᾷ, καὶ τὰ ὑψηλὰ ἀπομακρόθεν γινώσκει.
7Though I should walk in the midst of affliction, you will quicken me; you have stretched forth your hands against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand has saved me.Ἐὰν πορευθῶ ἐν μέσῳ θλίψεως, ζήσεις με· ἐπʼ ὀργὴν ἐχθρῶν μου ἐξέτεινας χεῖράς σου, καὶ ἔσωσέ με ἡ δεξιά σου.
8O Lord, you shall recompense them on my behalf: your mercy, O Lord, endures for ever: overlook not the works of your hands.Κύριε ἀνταποδώσεις ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ· Κύριε τὸ ἔλεός σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου μὴ παρίδῃς.
The Fathers on Psalms 137
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 137:1Saint Augustine of Hippo1. The title of this Psalm is brief and simple, and need not detain us; since we know whose resemblance David wore, and since in him we recognise ourselves also, for we too are members of that Body. The whole title is, “To David himself.” Let us see then, what is to David himself. The title of the Psalm is wont to tell us what is treated of within it: but in this, since the title informs us not of this, but tells…
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On Psalms 137:2Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “I will worship toward Thy holy Temple” (ver. 2). What holy Temple? That where we shall dwell, where we shall worship. For we hasten that we may adore. Our heart is pregnant and cometh to the birth, and seeketh where it may bring forth. What is the place where God is to be worshipped?…“The Temple of God is holy,” saith the Apostle, “which Temple ye are.” But assuredly, as is manifest, God dwelleth in the…
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On Psalms 137:3Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “In what day soever I call upon Thee, do Thou quickly hear me” (ver. 3). Wherefore, “quickly”? Because Thou hast said, “While yet thou art speaking I will say, Lo, here I am.” Wherefore, “quickly”? Because now I seek not earthly happiness, I have learnt holy longings from the New Testament. I seek not earth, nor earthly abundance, nor temporal health, nor the overthrow of my enemies, nor riches, nor rank:…
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On Psalms 137:4Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “Let all the kings of the earth confess to Thee, O Lord” (ver. 4). So shall it be, and so it is, and that daily; and it is shown that it was not said in vain, save that it was future. But neither let them, when they confess to Thee, when they praise Thee, desire earthly things of Thee. For what shall the kings of the earth desire? Have they not already sovereignty? Whatever more a man desire on earth,…
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On Psalms 137:5Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “And let them sing in the paths of the Lord, that great is the glory of the Lord” (ver. 5). Let all the kings of the earth sing in the paths of the Lord. In what paths? Those that are spoken of above, “in Thy mercy and Thy truth.” Let not then the kings of the earth be proud, let them be humble. Then let them sing in the ways of the Lord, if they be humble: let them love, and they shall sing. We know…
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On Psalms 137:6Saint Augustine of Hippo9. See how he willed that kings should sing on their way, humbly bearing the Lord, not lifting themselves up against the Lord. For if they lift themselves up, what follows? “For the Lord is high, and hath respect unto the lowly” (ver. 6). Do kings then desire that He have respect unto them? Let them be humble. What then? if they lift themselves up to pride, can they escape His eyes? Lest perchance, because thou…
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On Psalms 137:7Saint Augustine of Hippo10. “If I walk in the midst of tribulation, Thou shalt revive me” (ver. 7). True it is: whatsoever tribulation thou art in, confess, call on Him; He freeth thee, He reviveth thee.…Love the other life, and thou shalt see that this life is tribulation, whatever prosperity it shine with, whatever delights it abound and overflow with; since not yet have we that joy most safe and free from all temptation, which God…
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On Psalms 137:8Open Psalms 137 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo12. “Thou, Lord, shalt recompense for me” (ver. 8). I recompense not: Thou shalt recompense. Let mine enemies rage their full: Thou shalt recompense what I cannot.…“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,” saith the Apostle, “but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” There is here another sense not to be neglected, perhaps even to be preferred. “Lord”…
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