Psalmorum 137

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

By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion,

2 In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra:

Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.

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

For there those who had taken us prisoners made request for a song; and those who had taken away all we had gave us orders to be glad, saying, Give us one of the songs of Zion.

4 Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?

How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?

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

If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art.

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

If I let you go out of my thoughts, and if I do not put Jerusalem before my greatest joy, let my tongue be fixed to the roof of my mouth.

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

O Lord, keep in mind against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; how they said, Let it be uncovered, uncovered even to its base.

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

O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us.

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

Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.