RUSSIA: By the waters of Babylon - Moscow Sretensky choir (VIDEO)

Psalm 136[137], sung by the Moscow Sretensky Choir.

By the rivers of Babylon..." (Septuagint: "By the waters of Babylon...") 

Psalm 136

BY the waters of Babylon there we sat down and wept when we remembered thee, O Sion. Alleluia.

As for our harps, we hanged them up upon the willows that are therein.Alleluia.

For they that carried us away captive required of us the words of a song, and they that led us away asked for melody, in our heaviness, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Sion’. Alleluia.

How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Alleluia.

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning. Alleluia.

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, yea if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Alleluia.

Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem, how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground. Alleluia.

O daughter of Babylon, wasted with misery: yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us. Alleluia.

Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children, and throweth them against the stones.1 Alleluia.

1 St Augustine of Hippo wrote: “What are the little ones of Babylon? Evil desires at their birth. For there are, who have to fight with inveterate lusts. When lust is born, before evil habit giveth it strength against thee, when lust is little, by no means let it gain the strength of evil habit; when it is little, dash it. But thou fearest, lest though dashed it die not; ‘Dash it against the Rock; and that Rock is Christ.’” (Expositions on the Psalms, Ps 136[137].)

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