Psalms 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.

3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that made us wail [required] mirth, [saying, ] Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.

For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How should we sing a song of Jehovah's upon a foreign soil?

How can we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

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

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.

6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to my palate: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Remember, O Jehovah, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Lay [it] bare, Lay [it] bare, down to its foundation!

Remember, LORD, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”

8 Daughter of Babylon, who art to be laid waste, happy he that rendereth unto thee that which thou hast meted out to us.

Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us.

9 Happy he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.

Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.