KJV ORIGINAL
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its skill.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is making a passionate promise to never forget Jerusalem, even willing to lose his ability to play music if he does.
📚 Historical Context
This psalm was written during or after the Babylonian exile (586-538 BC), when the Jewish people were forced to leave Jerusalem and live as captives in Babylon. The 'right hand forgetting its cunning' likely refers to a musician's ability to play instruments, as the right hand was essential for playing the lyre or harp that accompanied psalms.
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