Amahubo 137

1 Ngasemifuleni yaseBhabhiloni sahlala phansi sakhala lapho sasikhumbula iZiyoni.

When we sat down by the rivers of Babylon we wept as we remembered Zion.

2 Khona lapho ezihlahleni zemidubu saphanyeka amachacho ethu,

We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

3 ngoba khonapho abathumbi bethu bacela izingoma kithi, labahlukuluzi bethu bafuna izingoma zentokozo; bathi, “Sihlabeleleni enye yezingoma zaseZiyoni!”

For those who had taken us captive asked us for a song—our tormentors wanted us to sing a happy song from Jerusalem.

4 Singazihlabela kanjani izingoma zikaThixo siselizweni lemzini na?

But how could we sing a song dedicated to the Lord in a pagan land?

5 Aluba ngikukhohlwa, Oh Jerusalema, isandla sami sokunene kasilahlekelwe yibungcitshi baso.

If I forget Jerusalem, may my right hand forget how to play;

6 Sengathi ulimi lwami lunganamathela elwangeni lomlomo wami uba ngingakukhumbuli wena, uba ngingathathi iJerusalema njengentokozo yami ephezu konke.

May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you—if I don't consider Jerusalem my greatest joy.

7 Khumbula, Oh Thixo, ama-Edomi akwenzayo mhla iJerusalema ithunjwa. “Lidilizeni,” baklabalala, “lidilizeni kanye lezisekelo zalo!”

Lord, please remember what the people of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell, the ones who said “Tear it down! Destroy it down to its foundations!”

8 Wena Ndodakazi yaseBhabhiloni, oqunyelwe ukubhubha, ubusisiwe lowo okuphindiselayo ngalokho okwenzileyo kithi.

Daughter of Babylon, you will be destroyed! Happy is the one who pays you back, who does to you what you did to us!

9 Ubusisiwe lowo othatha insane zakho, azisakazele ematsheni.

Happy is the one who grabs your children and smashes them against the rocks!