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].
An den Strömen Babels, da saßen wir und weinten, indem wir Zions gedachten.
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].
An den Weiden, die dort waren, hingen wir unsere Zithern auf.
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!”
Denn dort begehrten, die uns gefangen geführt, Lieder von uns, und unsere Peiniger Fröhlichkeit: “Singt uns eines von den Zionsliedern!”
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!”
Wie könnten wir die Jahwe-Lieder singen auf dem Boden der Fremde!
5 If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
Wenn ich deiner vergesse, Jerusalem, so schrumpfe meine Rechte ein.
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.
Es klebe meine Zunge an meinem Gaumen, wenn ich deiner nicht gedenke, wenn ich nicht lasse Jerusalem meine höchste Freude sein!
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!”
Gedenke, Jahwe, den Edomitern, den Unglückstag Jerusalems, die da riefen: “Nieder damit, nieder damit bis auf den Grund in ihr!”
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;
Tochter Babel, du Verwüsterin, wohl dem, der dir vergilt, was du uns angethan!
9 they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
Wohl dem, der deine zarten Kinder packt und schmettert an den Felsen.
