Psalms 137

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

By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion,

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

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