< Psalms 137 >
1 A Psalm of David: to Jeremiah. Above the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept, while we remembered Zion.
By rivers of Babylon — There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.
2 By the willow trees, in their midst, we hung up our instruments.
On willows in its midst we hung our harps.
3 For, in that place, those who led us into captivity questioned us about the words of the songs. And those who carried us away said: “Sing us a hymn from the songs of Zion.”
For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers — joy: 'Sing ye to us of a song of Zion.'
4 How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?
How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?
5 If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!
6 May my tongue adhere to my jaws, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem first, as the beginning of my joy.
My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7 O Lord, call to mind the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, who say: “Despoil it, despoil it, even to its foundation.”
Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, 'Rase, rase to its foundation!'
8 O daughter of Babylon, have pity. Blessed is he who will repay you with your payment, which you have paid to us.
O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us.
9 Blessed is he who will take hold of your little ones and dash them against the rock.
O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!