Psalms 137

1 For David, [a Psalm] of Jeremias. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat; and wept when we remembered Sion.

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps on the willows in the midst of it.

There on the willows we hung our harps,

3 For there they that had taken us captive asked of us the words of a song; and they that had carried us away [asked] a hymn, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Sion.

for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”

4 How should we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

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

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

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.

6 May my tongue cleave to my throat, if I do not remember you; if I do not prefer Jerusalem as the chief of my joy.

May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!

7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it], even to its foundations.

Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”

8 Wretched daughter of Babylon! blessed [shall he be] who shall reward you as you have rewarded us.

O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us.

9 Blessed [shall he be] who shall seize and dash your infants against the rock.

Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.