Zabbuli 137
1 Twatuula ku mabbali g’emigga gy’e Babulooni, ne tukaaba amaziga bwe twajjukira Sayuuni.
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 Ne tuwanika ennanga zaffe ku miti egyali awo.
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 Abaatunyaga ne batulagira okuyimba, abaatubonyaabonya ne batulagira okusanyuka; nga bagamba nti, “Mutuyimbireyo lumu ku nnyimba za Sayuuni.”
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 Tunaayimba tutya oluyimba lwa Mukama mu nsi eteri yaffe?
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 Bwe nnaakwerabiranga, ggwe Yerusaalemi, omukono gwange ogwa ddyo gukale!
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Olulimi lwange lwesibire waggulu w’ekibuno kyange singa nkwerabira, ggwe Yerusaalemi, ne sikulowoozaako okusinga ebintu ebirala byonna.
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 Jjukira, Ayi Mukama, batabani ba Edomu kye baakola, ku lunaku Yerusaalemi lwe kyawambibwa; ne baleekaana nti, “Kisuule, kimalirewo ddala n’emisingi gyakyo.”
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 Ggwe omuwala wa Babulooni, agenda okuzikirizibwa, yeesiimye oyo alikusasula ebyo nga naawe bye watukola.
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 Yeesiimye oyo aliddira abaana bo n’ababetentera ku lwazi.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
