Amahubo 137

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

By rivers of Babylon—There we sat, Indeed, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 Amachacho ethu sawaphanyeka eminyezaneni phakathi kwayo.

We hung our harps on willows in its midst.

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

For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers—joy: “Sing to us of a song of Zion.”

4 Singahlabela njani ingoma yeNkosi elizweni lemzini?

How do we sing the song of YHWH, On the land of a stranger?

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

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgets!

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

My tongue cleaves to my palate, If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

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

Remember, YHWH, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, “Raze, raze to its foundation!”

8 Ndodakazi yeBhabhiloni, ozabhujiswa, ubusisiwe ozaphindisela kuwe isenzo osenze kithi.

O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the blessedness of him who repays to you your deed, That you have done to us.

9 Ubusisiwe ozabamba asakaze abantwana bakho edwaleni.

O the blessedness of him who seizes, and has dashed your sucklings on the rock!