< Psalms 137 >
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
By rivers of Babylon — There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps on the willows in the middle thereof.
On willows in its midst we hung our harps.
3 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.
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 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?
How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!
6 If I do not remember you, let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief 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 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.
Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, 'Rase, rase to its foundation!'
8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served 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 shall he be, that takes and dashes your little ones against the stones.
O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!