< Amahubo 137 >
1 Emifuleni yeBhabhiloni sahlala phansi khona, yebo sakhala inyembezi, lapho sikhumbula 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 Amachacho ethu sawaphanyeka eminyezaneni phakathi kwayo.
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 abasithumbayo basicela amazwi engoma, labasimotshayo bacela injabulo besithi: Sihlabeleleni enye yezingoma zeZiyoni.
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 Singahlabela njani ingoma yeNkosi elizweni lemzini?
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 Uba ngikukhohlwa, Jerusalema, isandla sami sokunene kasikhohlwe ubungcitshi.
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Ulimi lwami kalunamathele elwangeni lwami, uba ngingakukhumbuli, uba ngingaphakamisi iJerusalema phezu kwentokozo yami enkulu.
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, Nkosi, ngabantwana bakoEdoma, ngosuku lweJerusalema, abathi: Dilizani, dilizani, kuze kube sesisekelweni sayo.
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 Ndodakazi yeBhabhiloni, ozabhujiswa, ubusisiwe ozaphindisela kuwe isenzo osenze 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 ozabamba asakaze abantwana bakho edwaleni.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.