Psalmorum 137

1 Psalmus David, Jeremiæ. [Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, cum recordaremur Sion.

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

2 In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra:

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3 quia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos duxerunt nos, verba cantionum; et qui abduxerunt nos: Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

4 Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?

How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

5 Si oblitus fuero tui, Jerusalem, oblivioni detur dextera mea.

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

6 Adhæreat lingua mea faucibus meis, si non meminero tui; si non proposuero Jerusalem in principio lætitiæ meæ.

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Memor esto, Domine, filiorum Edom, in die Jerusalem: qui dicunt: Exinanite, exinanite usque ad fundamentum in ea.

Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

8 Filia Babylonis misera! beatus qui retribuet tibi retributionem tuam quam retribuisti nobis.

O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

9 Beatus qui tenebit, et allidet parvulos tuos ad petram.]

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