Psalms 137

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

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

2 There on the poplars we hung our harps.

On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.

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

For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

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

How can we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

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

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.

6 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.

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 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.’

Remember, LORD, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”

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

Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us.

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

Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.