Psalms 137

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

By the rivers of Babylon, there, we sat down, yea we wept—when we remembered Zion:

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

Upon the willows—in the midst thereof, hanged we our lyres:

3 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!”

For, there, our captors asked of us words of song, and our plunderers—gladness, —Sing us of the songs of Zion!

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

How shall we sing the song of Yahweh, on a foreign soil?

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

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right-hand forget:

6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember thee! if I do not lift up Jerusalem above the head of mine own gladness.

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

Remember, O Yahweh, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, —how they continued to say—Overthrow! Overthrow! unto the foundation within it.

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

O ruined daughter of Babylon, —how happy the man who shall repay thee thy dealing, wherewith thou didst deal with us!

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

How happy the man who shall snatch away and dash thy children against the crag.