Psalms 137

1 By the waters of Babylon there we sat, and we wept at the thought of Zion.

For David, [a Psalm] of Jeremias. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat; and wept when we remembered Sion.

2 There on the poplars we hung our harps.

We hung our harps on the willows in the midst of it.

3 For there our captors called for a song: our tormentors, rejoicing, saying: ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion.’

For there they that had taken us captive asked of us the words of a song; and they that had carried us away [asked] a hymn, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Sion.

4 How can we sing the Lord’s song in the foreigner’s land?

How should we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither.

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill].

6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I am unmindful of you, or don’t set Jerusalem above my chief joy.

May my tongue cleave to my throat, if I do not remember you; if I do not prefer Jerusalem as the chief of my joy.

7 Remember the Edomites, Lord, the day of Jerusalem’s fall, when they said, ‘Lay her bare, lay her bare, right down to her very foundation.’

Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it], even to its foundations.

8 Babylon, despoiler, happy are those who pay you back for all you have done to us.

Wretched daughter of Babylon! blessed [shall he be] who shall reward you as you have rewarded us.

9 Happy are they who seize and dash your children against the rocks.

Blessed [shall he be] who shall seize and dash your infants against the rock.