Nnwom 137
1 Babilonia nsubɔnten ho, ɛhɔ na yɛtena suu bere a yɛkaee Sion no.
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 Ɛhɔ konkɔn so nnua mu na yɛde yɛn asanku sensɛnee,
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 ɛhɔ na yɛn nnommumfafo kaa se yɛnto nnwom, yɛn ahohiafo hwehwɛɛ anigye nnwom fii yɛn nkyɛn; wɔkae se, “Monto Sion nnwom baako nkyerɛ yɛn!”
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 Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na yɛatumi ato Awurade nnwom, bere a yɛwɔ ananafo asase so?
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 Yerusalem, sɛ me werɛ fi wo a ma me nsa nifa werɛ mfi sankubɔ.
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
6 Sɛ mankae wo a, ma me tɛkrɛma nka ntare mʼanom sɛ mamfa Yerusalem sɛ mʼanigyede kɛse pa ara a.
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 Kae, Awurade, nea Edomfo yɛɛ da a Yerusalem hwee ase no. Wɔteɛɛ mu se, “Munnwiriw, munnwiriw ngu fam nkɔka ne fapem!”
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 Ɔbabea Babilonia, wɔadome wo akɔ ɔsɛe mu, nea otua wo ka bio ani gye wɔ nea wode ayɛ yɛn no ho.
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 Nea ɔkyere wo nkokoaa de wɔn dwiradwira abotan no ani gye.
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
