Psalms 137

1 Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion:

When we sat down by the rivers of Babylon we wept as we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments.

We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

3 For there they that led us into captivity required of us the words of songs. And they that carried us away, said: Sing ye to us a hymn of the songs of Sion.

For those who had taken us captive asked us for a song—our tormentors wanted us to sing a happy song from Jerusalem.

4 How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land?

But how could we sing a song dedicated to the Lord in a pagan land?

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.

If I forget Jerusalem, may my right hand forget how to play;

6 Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy.

May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you—if I don't consider Jerusalem my greatest joy.

7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem: Who say: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

Lord, please remember what the people of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell, the ones who said “Tear it down! Destroy it down to its foundations!”

8 O daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us.

Daughter of Babylon, you will be destroyed! Happy is the one who pays you back, who does to you what you did to us!

9 Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock.

Happy is the one who grabs your children and smashes them against the rocks!