Amahubo 137

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

By rivers of Babylon — There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 Amachacho ethu sawaphanyeka eminyezaneni phakathi kwayo.

On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

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 ye to us of a song of Zion.'

4 Singahlabela njani ingoma yeNkosi elizweni lemzini?

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

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

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!

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

My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, 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, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, 'Rase, rase to its foundation!'

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

O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us.

9 Ubusisiwe ozabamba asakaze abantwana bakho edwaleni.

O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!