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.

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

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 they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing 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 YHWH 's song in a strange 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 her cunning.

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.

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not 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 YHWH, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase 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 art to be destroyed; joyful shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

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

Joyful shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.