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 down, yea we wept—when we remembered Zion:

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

Upon the willows—in the midst thereof, hanged we our lyres:

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 asked of us words of song, and our plunderers—gladness, —Sing us of the songs of Zion!

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

How shall we sing the song of Yahweh, on a foreign soil?

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, Let 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.

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember thee! if I do not lift up Jerusalem above the head of mine own gladness.

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 Yahweh, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, —how they continued to say—Overthrow! Overthrow! unto the foundation within it.

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

O ruined daughter of Babylon, —how happy the man who shall repay thee thy dealing, wherewith thou didst deal with us!

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

How happy the man who shall snatch away and dash thy children against the crag.