Nnwom 137

1 Babilonia nsubɔntene ho, ɛhɔ na yɛtena suiɛ ɛberɛ a yɛkaee Sion no.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 Ɛhɔ nsukakye nnua so na yɛde yɛn asankuo sensɛneeɛ,

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3 ɛhɔ na yɛn nnommumfafoɔ bisaa yɛn nnwom, yɛn ahohiahiafoɔ pɛɛ yɛn hɔ ahurisie nnwom; wɔkaa sɛ, “Monto Sion nnwom baako mma yɛn!”

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that made us wail [required] mirth, [saying, ] Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.

4 Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na yɛatumi ato Awurade nnwom ɛberɛ a yɛwɔ ananafoɔ asase so?

How should we sing a song of Jehovah's upon a foreign soil?

5 Ao Yerusalem, sɛ mewerɛ firi wo a ma me nsa nifa werɛ mfiri sankubɔ.

If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill];

6 Sɛ mankae wo sɛ mʼanigyedeɛ kɛseɛ pa ara a, ma me tɛkrɛma nka mfam mʼanomu.

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to my palate: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Ao Awurade, kae deɛ Edomfoɔ yɛeɛ wɔ ɛda a Yerusalem hwee ase no. Wɔteam sɛ, “Monnwiri, monnwiri ngu fam nkɔka nʼafapem!”

Remember, O Jehovah, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Lay [it] bare, Lay [it] bare, down to its foundation!

8 Ao Babilonia babaa a wɔahyɛ sɛ wɔbɛsɛe wo, nhyira nka deɛ ɔtua wo ka wɔ deɛ wode ayɛ yɛn so.

Daughter of Babylon, who art to be laid waste, happy he that rendereth unto thee that which thou hast meted out to us.

9 Nhyira nka deɛ ɔkyekyee wo nkokoaa de wɔn bobɔɔ abotan so.

Happy he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.