137:1 By the rivers of Babylon
we sit down and weep 2
when we remember Zion.
137:2 On the poplars in her midst
we hang our harps,
17:5 He took one of the seedlings 3 of the land,
placed it in a cultivated plot; 4
a shoot by abundant water,
like a willow he planted it.
1 sn Psalm 137. The Babylonian exiles lament their condition, vow to remain loyal to Jerusalem, and appeal to God for revenge on their enemies.
2 tn Heb “there we sit down, also we weep.”
3 tn Heb “took of the seed of the land.” For the vine imagery, “seedling” is a better translation, though in its subsequent interpretation the “seed” refers to Zedekiah through its common application to offspring.
4 tn Heb “a field for seed.”