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 made us wail [required] mirth, [saying, ] Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.

4 Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?

How should we sing a song of Jehovah's upon a foreign soil?

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

If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill];

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 my palate: 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 Jehovah, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Lay [it] bare, Lay [it] bare, down to its foundation!

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

Daughter of Babylon, who art to be laid waste, happy he that rendereth unto thee that which thou hast meted out to us.

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

Happy he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.