Psalms 137

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

By the rivers of Babylon, there, we sat down, yea we wept—when we remembered Zion:

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

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

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

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

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

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

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right-hand forget:

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

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

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 Wretched daughter of Babylon! blessed [shall he be] who shall reward you as you have rewarded us.

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

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

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