Psalms 137

1 When we [had been taken to] Babylonia, [far from Jerusalem], we sat down by the rivers there, and we cried when we thought about [the temple on] Zion [Hill in Jerusalem].

2 On the willow trees [alongside the rivers] we hung our harps [because we did not want to play them any more because we were very sad].

3 The [soldiers] who had captured us [and taken us to Babylonia] told us to sing [for them]; they told us to (entertain them/make them happy), saying, “Sing for us one of the songs [that you previously sang in] Jerusalem!”

4 But [we thought], “We [are sad because we have been punished by Yahweh and brought to this] foreign land, so we cannot [RHQ] sing songs about Yahweh while we are here!”

5 If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]

6 Do not allow me to sing again [MTY], if I forget about Jerusalem, if I do not consider that Jerusalem causes me to be more joyful than anything else does.

7 Yahweh, [punish] the people of the Edom people-group for what they did on the day that the army of Babylon captured Jerusalem. Do not forget that they said, “Tear down all the buildings! Destroy them completely! Leave only the foundations!”

8 And you people of Babylon, you will certainly be destroyed! Those who punish you in return for what you did to us will be happy;

9 they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.