Psalms 137

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

By rivers of Babylon — There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

On willows in its midst we hung 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 our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers — joy: 'Sing ye to us of a song of Zion.'

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

How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?

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

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!

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.

My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt 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, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, 'Rase, rase to its foundation!'

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, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us.

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

O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!