Amahubo 137
1 Ngasemifuleni yaseBhabhiloni sahlala phansi sakhala lapho sasikhumbula iZiyoni.
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 Khona lapho ezihlahleni zemidubu saphanyeka amachacho ethu,
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 ngoba khonapho abathumbi bethu bacela izingoma kithi, labahlukuluzi bethu bafuna izingoma zentokozo; bathi, “Sihlabeleleni enye yezingoma zaseZiyoni!”
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 Singazihlabela kanjani izingoma zikaThixo siselizweni lemzini na?
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 Aluba ngikukhohlwa, Oh Jerusalema, isandla sami sokunene kasilahlekelwe yibungcitshi baso.
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Sengathi ulimi lwami lunganamathela elwangeni lomlomo wami uba ngingakukhumbuli wena, uba ngingathathi iJerusalema njengentokozo yami ephezu konke.
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 Khumbula, Oh Thixo, ama-Edomi akwenzayo mhla iJerusalema ithunjwa. “Lidilizeni,” baklabalala, “lidilizeni kanye lezisekelo zalo!”
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 Wena Ndodakazi yaseBhabhiloni, oqunyelwe ukubhubha, ubusisiwe lowo okuphindiselayo ngalokho okwenzileyo kithi.
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 Ubusisiwe lowo othatha insane zakho, azisakazele ematsheni.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
