Psalms 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion,

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat, and we also wept when we remembered Zion.

2 Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.

Upon the willows in her midst had we hung up our harps.

3 For there those who had taken us prisoners made request for a song; and those who had taken away all we had gave us orders to be glad, saying, Give us one of the songs of Zion.

For there our captors demanded of us the words of song; and those that mocked us, joy, [saying, ] Sing for us one of the songs of Zion.

4 How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?

How should we sing the song of the Lord on the soil of the stranger?

5 If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art.

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget—.

6 If I let you go out of my thoughts, and if I do not put Jerusalem before my greatest joy, let my tongue be fixed to the roof of my mouth.

May my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember thee: if I recall not Jerusalem at the head of my joy.

7 O Lord, keep in mind against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; how they said, Let it be uncovered, uncovered even to its base.

Remember, O Lord, unto the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to her very foundation.

8 O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us.

O daughter of Babylon, who art wasted: happy he, that repayeth thee thy recompense for what thou hast done to us.

9 Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.

Happy he, that seizeth and dasheth thy babes against the rock.