Psaltaren 137
1 Vid Babels floder, där sutto vi och gräto, när vi tänkte på Sion.
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 I pilträden som där voro hängde vi upp våra harpor.
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 Ty de som höllo oss fångna bådo oss där att sjunga, och våra plågare bådo oss vara glada: "Sjungen för oss en av Sions sånger."
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 Huru skulle vi kunna sjunga HERRENS sång i främmande land?
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 Nej, om jag förgäter dig, Jerusalem, så förgäte min högra hand sin tjänst.
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Min tunga låde vid min gom, om jag upphör att tänka på dig, om jag icke låter Jerusalem vara min allra högsta glädje.
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 Tänk, HERRE, på Jerusalems dag, och straffa Edoms barn, dem som ropade: "Riven ned, riven ned det ända till grunden."
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 Dotter Babel, du ödeläggelsens stad, säll är den som får vedergälla dig allt vad du har gjort oss.
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 Säll är den som får gripa dina späda barn och krossa dem mot klippan.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
