Psalmorum 137
1 David Hieremiae super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus cum recordaremur Sion
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 in salicibus in medio eius suspendimus organa nostra
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 quia illic interrogaverunt nos qui captivos duxerunt nos verba cantionum et qui abduxerunt nos hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion
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 quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena
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 si oblitus fuero tui Hierusalem oblivioni detur dextera mea
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 adhereat lingua mea faucibus meis si non meminero tui si non praeposuero Hierusalem in principio laetitiae meae
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 memor esto Domine filiorum Edom diem Hierusalem qui dicunt exinanite exinanite usque ad fundamentum in ea
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 filia Babylonis misera beatus qui retribuet tibi retributionem tuam quam retribuisti nobis
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 beatus qui tenebit et adlidet parvulos tuos ad petram
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
