Psalmorum 137

1 Psalmus David, Ieremiæ. Super flumina Babylonis, illic sedimus et flevimus: cum recordaremur Sion:

By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion,

2 In salicibus in medio eius, suspendimus organa nostra.

Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.

3 Quia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos duxerunt nos, verba cantionum: Et qui abduxerunt nos: Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.

For there those who had taken us prisoners made request for a song; and those who had taken away all we had gave us orders to be glad, saying, Give us one of the songs of Zion.

4 Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?

How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?

5 Si oblitus fuero tui Ierusalem, oblivioni detur dextera mea.

If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art.

6 Adhæreat lingua mea faucibus meis, si non meminero tui: Si non proposuero Ierusalem, in principio lætitiæ meæ.

If I let you go out of my thoughts, and if I do not put Jerusalem before my greatest joy, let my tongue be fixed to the roof of my mouth.

7 Memor esto Domine filiorum Edom, in die Ierusalem: Qui dicunt: Exinanite, exinanite usque ad fundamentum in ea.

O Lord, keep in mind against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; how they said, Let it be uncovered, uncovered even to its base.

8 Filia Babylonis misera: beatus, qui retribuet tibi retributionem tuam, quam retribuisti nobis.

O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us.

9 Beatus, qui tenebit, et allidet parvulos tuos ad petram.

Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.