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, and we also wept when we remembered Zion.

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

Upon the willows in her midst had 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 our captors demanded of us the words of song; and those that mocked us, joy, [saying, ] Sing for us one of the songs of Zion.

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

How should we sing the song of the Lord on the soil of the stranger?

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

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget—.

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

May my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember thee: if I recall not Jerusalem at the head of my 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, O Lord, unto the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to her very 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.

O daughter of Babylon, who art wasted: happy he, that repayeth thee thy recompense for what thou hast done to us.

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

Happy he, that seizeth and dasheth thy babes against the rock.