Psalms 137

1 For David, [a Psalm] of Jeremias. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat; and wept when we remembered Sion.

When we sat down by the rivers of Babylon we wept as we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps on the willows in the midst of it.

We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

3 For there they that had taken us captive asked of us the words of a song; and they that had carried us away [asked] a hymn, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Sion.

For those who had taken us captive asked us for a song—our tormentors wanted us to sing a happy song from Jerusalem.

4 How should we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

But how could we sing a song dedicated to the Lord in a pagan land?

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill].

If I forget Jerusalem, may my right hand forget how to play;

6 May my tongue cleave to my throat, if I do not remember thee; if I do not prefer Jerusalem as the chief of my joy.

May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you—if I don't consider Jerusalem my greatest joy.

7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it], even to its foundations.

Lord, please remember what the people of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell, the ones who said “Tear it down! Destroy it down to its foundations!”

8 Wretched daughter of Babylon! blessed [shall he be] who shall reward thee as thou hast rewarded us.

Daughter of Babylon, you will be destroyed! Happy is the one who pays you back, who does to you what you did to us!

9 Blessed [shall he be] who shall seize and dash thine infants against the rock.

Happy is the one who grabs your children and smashes them against the rocks!