1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept,
when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps
upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3 For 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.
4 How shall we sing the Lord 's song
in a strange land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget her cunning.
6 If I do not remember thee,
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem;
who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed;
happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee
as thou hast served us.
9 Happy shall he be, that taketh
and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
Comments by Joan Boney
They were carried away captive into Babylon (the world) because of their sins against God.
But how can we sing of the Lord in a strange land? They say "sing" but they do not like it when we speak of God and of HIS works. Sometimes as we speak of God they even grimace. They love it when we sing their song, of this world, of men's accomplishments, praising men. But they do not like praise to God. They want us to be like themselves.
Though we serve in captivity for a season, God is always faithful to deliver HIS people, HIS children.