Psalms 137

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

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

2 We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung up our harps.

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

For there those who led us captive required of us songs, and those who wasted us, mirth, saying, Sing for us one of the songs of Zion.

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

How shall we sing Jehovah's song in a foreign land?

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

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

6 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.

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

7 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!”

Remember, O Jehovah, the day of Jerusalem against the sons of Edom, who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.

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

O daughter of Babylon, who is to be destroyed, happy shall he be who rewards thee as thou have served us.

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

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