Masalimo 137
1 Mʼmbali mwa mitsinje ya ku Babuloni tinakhala pansi ndi kulira pamene tinakumbukira Ziyoni.
When we [had been taken to] Babylonia, [far from Jerusalem], we sat down by the rivers there, and we cried when we thought about [the temple on] Zion [Hill in Jerusalem].
2 Kumeneko, pa mitengo ya misondozi tinapachika apangwe athu,
On the willow trees [alongside the rivers] we hung our harps [because we did not want to play them any more because we were very sad].
3 pakuti anthu otigwira ukapolo anatipempha kuti tiyimbe nyimbo. Otizunza athu anafuna nyimbo zachisangalalo; iwo anati, “Tiyimbireni imodzi mwa nyimbo za ku Ziyoni!”
The [soldiers] who had captured us [and taken us to Babylonia] told us to sing [for them]; they told us to (entertain them/make them happy), saying, “Sing for us one of the songs [that you previously sang in] Jerusalem!”
4 Tingayimbe bwanji nyimbo za Yehova mʼdziko lachilendo?
But [we thought], “We [are sad because we have been punished by Yahweh and brought to this] foreign land, so we cannot [RHQ] sing songs about Yahweh while we are here!”
5 Ndikakuyiwala iwe Yerusalemu, dzanja langa lamanja liyiwale luso lake.
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Lilime langa limamatire ku nkhama za mʼkamwa mwanga ndikapanda kukukumbukira iwe Yerusalemu, ngati sindiyesa iwe chimwemwe changa chachikulu.
Do not allow me to sing again [MTY], if I forget about Jerusalem, if I do not consider that Jerusalem causes me to be more joyful than anything else does.
7 Kumbukirani, Inu Yehova, zimene Aedomu anachita pa tsiku limene Yerusalemu anagonja. Iwowo anafuwula kuti, “Mugwetseni pansi, mugwetseni pansi mpaka pa maziko ake!”
Yahweh, [punish] the people of the Edom people-group for what they did on the day that the army of Babylon captured Jerusalem. Do not forget that they said, “Tear down all the buildings! Destroy them completely! Leave only the foundations!”
8 Iwe mwana wa mkazi wa Babuloni, woyenera kuwonongedwa, wodalitsika ndi yemwe adzakubwezera pa zimene watichitira.
And you people of Babylon, you will certainly be destroyed! Those who punish you in return for what you did to us will be happy;
9 Amene adzagwira makanda ako ndi kuwakankhanthitsa pa miyala.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
