Nnwom 137

1 Babilonia nsubɔnten ho, ɛhɔ na yɛtena suu bere a yɛkaee Sion no.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat, and we also wept when we remembered Zion.

2 Ɛhɔ konkɔn so nnua mu na yɛde yɛn asanku sensɛnee,

Upon the willows in her midst had we hung up our harps.

3 ɛhɔ na yɛn nnommumfafo kaa se yɛnto nnwom, yɛn ahohiafo hwehwɛɛ anigye nnwom fii yɛn nkyɛn; wɔkae se, “Monto Sion nnwom baako nkyerɛ yɛn!”

For there our captors demanded of us the words of song; and those that mocked us, joy, [saying, ] Sing for us one of the songs of Zion.

4 Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na yɛatumi ato Awurade nnwom, bere a yɛwɔ ananafo asase so?

How should we sing the song of the Lord on the soil of the stranger?

5 Yerusalem, sɛ me werɛ fi wo a ma me nsa nifa werɛ mfi sankubɔ.

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget—.

6 Sɛ mankae wo a, ma me tɛkrɛma nka ntare mʼanom sɛ mamfa Yerusalem sɛ mʼanigyede kɛse pa ara a.

May my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember thee: if I recall not Jerusalem at the head of my joy.

7 Kae, Awurade, nea Edomfo yɛɛ da a Yerusalem hwee ase no. Wɔteɛɛ mu se, “Munnwiriw, munnwiriw ngu fam nkɔka ne fapem!”

Remember, O Lord, unto the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to her very foundation.

8 Ɔbabea Babilonia, wɔadome wo akɔ ɔsɛe mu, nea otua wo ka bio ani gye wɔ nea wode ayɛ yɛn no ho.

O daughter of Babylon, who art wasted: happy he, that repayeth thee thy recompense for what thou hast done to us.

9 Nea ɔkyere wo nkokoaa de wɔn dwiradwira abotan no ani gye.

Happy he, that seizeth and dasheth thy babes against the rock.