Psalm 137

From The Whole Booke of Psalms, 1621 Thomas Ravenscroft
English Protestants in New England saw themselves as the spiritual heirs of the Hebrews of the Old Testament. This sense of identification was all the more powerful for John Williams and the other captives from Deerfield, who, like the ancient Hebrews described in the 137th Psalm, were forcibly taken into exile by their enemies.

When as we sat in Babylon, the Rivers round about;
And in remembrance of Sion, the tears for grief burst out.
We hang’d our Harps and Instruments the Willow trees upon:
For in that place men for their use had planted many one.

But yet if I Jerusalem, out of my heart let slide:
Then let my fingers quite forget, the warbling Harp to guide.
And let my tongue within my mouth be tied forever fast:
If that I joy before I see they full deliverance past.

Therefore, O Lord remember now, the cursed noise and cry:
That Edom’s sonnes against us made, when they razed our city.
Remember Lord their cruel words, when as with one accord:
They cried, on, sack, and raze their walls in despite of the Lord.

Even so shall thou O Babilon, at length to dust be brought:
And happy shall that man be called, that our revenge hath wrought.
Yea blessed shall that man be called, that takes thy children young:
To dash their bone against hard stones, which lie the streets among.