Amahubo 137

1 Emifuleni yeBhabhiloni sahlala phansi khona, yebo sakhala inyembezi, lapho sikhumbula iZiyoni.

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

2 Amachacho ethu sawaphanyeka eminyezaneni phakathi kwayo.

We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

3 Ngoba khonapho abasithumbayo basicela amazwi engoma, labasimotshayo bacela injabulo besithi: Sihlabeleleni enye yezingoma zeZiyoni.

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

4 Singahlabela njani ingoma yeNkosi elizweni lemzini?

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

5 Uba ngikukhohlwa, Jerusalema, isandla sami sokunene kasikhohlwe ubungcitshi.

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

6 Ulimi lwami kalunamathele elwangeni lwami, uba ngingakukhumbuli, uba ngingaphakamisi iJerusalema phezu kwentokozo yami enkulu.

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, Nkosi, ngabantwana bakoEdoma, ngosuku lweJerusalema, abathi: Dilizani, dilizani, kuze kube sesisekelweni sayo.

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 Ndodakazi yeBhabhiloni, ozabhujiswa, ubusisiwe ozaphindisela kuwe isenzo osenze 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 ozabamba asakaze abantwana bakho edwaleni.

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