Zaburi 137
1 Kando ya mito ya Babeli tuliketi, tukaomboleza tulipokumbuka Sayuni.
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 Kwenye miti ya huko tulitundika vinubi vyetu,
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 kwa maana huko hao waliotuteka walitaka tuwaimbie nyimbo, watesi wetu walidai nyimbo za furaha; walisema, “Tuimbieni wimbo mmoja kati ya nyimbo za Sayuni!”
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 Tutaimbaje nyimbo za Bwana, tukiwa nchi ya kigeni?
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 Nikikusahau wewe, ee Yerusalemu, basi mkono wangu wa kuume na usahau ujuzi wake.
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 wangu ushikamane na kaakaa la kinywa changu kama sitakukumbuka wewe, kama nisipokufikiri Yerusalemu kuwa furaha yangu kubwa.
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 Kumbuka, Ee Bwana, walichokifanya Waedomu, siku ile Yerusalemu ilipoanguka. Walisema, “Bomoa, Bomoa mpaka kwenye misingi yake!”
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 Ee binti Babeli, uliyehukumiwa kuangamizwa, heri yeye atakayekulipiza wewe kwa yale uliyotutenda sisi:
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 yeye ambaye atawakamata watoto wako wachanga na kuwaponda juu ya miamba.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
