Psalmorum 137

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

By rivers of Babylon—There we sat, Indeed, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra:

We hung our harps on willows in its midst.

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

For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers—joy: “Sing to us of a song of Zion.”

4 Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?

How do we sing the song of YHWH, On the land of a stranger?

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

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgets!

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

My tongue cleaves to my palate, If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

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

Remember, YHWH, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, “Raze, raze to its foundation!”

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

O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the blessedness of him who repays to you your deed, That you have done to us.

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

O the blessedness of him who seizes, and has dashed your sucklings on the rock!