Psalms 137

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

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps on willows in its midst.

Upon the willows in the midst thereof we hanged up our harps.

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 captive required of us songs, and they that wasted us [required of us] mirth, [saying], Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

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

How shall we sing the LORD’S song 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 forget [her cunning].

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 the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

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

Remember, O LORD, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; who said, 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, that art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

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

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.