Psalms 137

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

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

2 We hung our harps on willows in its midst.

We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!”

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.

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

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

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