Psalms 137

1 By rivers of Babylon—There we sat, Indeed, we wept when we remembered Zion.

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

2 We hung our harps on willows in its midst.

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

3 For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers—joy: “Sing to us of a song of Zion.”

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.

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

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

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgets!

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

6 My tongue cleaves to my palate, If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

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

7 Remember, YHWH, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, “Raze, raze to its foundation!”

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

8 O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the blessedness of him who repays to you your deed, That you have done to us.

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

9 O the blessedness of him who seizes, and has dashed your sucklings on the rock!

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