Psalms 137

1 A Psalm of David: to Jeremiah. Above the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept, while we remembered Zion.

By the waters of Babylon there we sat, and we wept at the thought of Zion.

2 By the willow trees, in their midst, we hung up our instruments.

There on the poplars we hung our harps.

3 For, in that place, those who led us into captivity questioned us about the words of the songs. And those who carried us away said: “Sing us a hymn from the songs of Zion.”

For there our captors called for a song: our tormentors, rejoicing, saying: ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion.’

4 How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?

How can we sing the Lord’s song in the foreigner’s land?

5 If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.

If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither.

6 May my tongue adhere to my jaws, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem first, as the beginning of my joy.

May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I am unmindful of you, or don’t set Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 O Lord, call to mind the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, who say: “Despoil it, despoil it, even to its foundation.”

Remember the Edomites, Lord, the day of Jerusalem’s fall, when they said, ‘Lay her bare, lay her bare, right down to her very foundation.’

8 O daughter of Babylon, have pity. Blessed is he who will repay you with your payment, which you have paid to us.

Babylon, despoiler, happy are those who pay you back for all you have done to us.

9 Blessed is he who will take hold of your little ones and dash them against the rock.

Happy are they who seize and dash your children against the rocks.