< Thaburi 137 >

1 Ngurumo-inĩ cia njũũĩ cia Babuloni nĩkuo twaikaraga thĩ tũkarĩra, twaririkana Zayuni.
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 Kũu mĩtĩ-inĩ ya mĩethia nĩkuo twacuuragia inanda ciitũ cia mũgeeto,
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 nĩgũkorwo tũrĩ kũu andũ arĩa maatũtahĩte nĩmatwĩraga tũmainĩre nyĩmbo, o acio atũnyariiri magatwĩra tũmainĩre nyĩmbo tũkenete, magatwĩra atĩrĩ, “Tũinĩrei rwĩmbo rũmwe rwa iria mwainaga mũrĩ Zayuni!”
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 Tũngĩhota atĩa kũina nyĩmbo cia Jehova tũrĩ bũrũri wa ũgeni?
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 Ingĩkariganĩrwo nĩwe, Wee Jerusalemu-rĩ, guoko gwakwa kwa ũrĩo kũrokĩriganĩrwo nĩ ũũgĩ wakuo wa gwĩka maũndũ.
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Rũrĩmĩ rwakwa rũronyiitana na karakara ingĩkaaga gũkũririkana, ingĩkaaga gũtua Jerusalemu gĩkeno gĩakwa kĩrĩa kĩnene.
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 Wee Jehova, ririkana ũrĩa andũ a Edomu meekire, mũthenya ũrĩa itũũra rĩa Jerusalemu rĩanyiitirwo. Maanĩrĩire, makiuga atĩrĩ, “Rĩmomorei, rĩmomorei o nginya mũthingi-inĩ warĩo!”
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 Wee mwarĩ wa Babuloni, o wee ũtuĩrĩirwo kũniinwo, gũkena nĩ mũndũ ũrĩa ũgũgwĩka o ta ũguo ũtwĩkĩte:
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 gũkena nĩ mũndũ ũrĩa ũhuragia tũkenge twaku, agatũgũthithia ndwaro-inĩ cia mahiga.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.

< Thaburi 137 >