Psalmen 137
1 Aan Babels stromen zaten wij schreiend Bij de gedachte aan Sion;
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 En aan de wilgen, die daar stonden, Hingen wij onze harpen op.
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 Ja, daar durfden onze rovers Ons nog liederen vragen; En onze beulen: "Zingt ons vrolijke wijsjes Uit de zangen van Sion!"
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 Ach, hoe zouden wij Jahweh’s liederen zingen Op vreemde bodem!
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 Jerusalem, zo ik u zou vergeten, Ik vergat mijn rechterhand nog eer;
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Mijn tong mag aan mijn gehemelte kleven, Zo ik u niet gedenk: Zo ik niet meer van Jerusalem houd, Dan van het toppunt van vreugde.
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 Jahweh, reken de zonen van Edom De dag van Jerusalem toe; Die riepen: Smijt ze neer, smijt ze neer; Neer met haar op de grond!
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 En gij, dochter van Babel, moordenares: Heil hem, die u vergeldt wat gij ons hebt gedaan;
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 Heil hem, die uw kinderen grijpt, En tegen de rots te pletter slaat!
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
