Psalms 137

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

Ngasemifuleni yaseBhabhiloni sahlala phansi sakhala lapho sasikhumbula iZiyoni.

2 There on the poplars we hung our harps.

Khona lapho ezihlahleni zemidubu saphanyeka amachacho ethu,

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

ngoba khonapho abathumbi bethu bacela izingoma kithi, labahlukuluzi bethu bafuna izingoma zentokozo; bathi, “Sihlabeleleni enye yezingoma zaseZiyoni!”

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

Singazihlabela kanjani izingoma zikaThixo siselizweni lemzini na?

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

Aluba ngikukhohlwa, Oh Jerusalema, isandla sami sokunene kasilahlekelwe yibungcitshi baso.

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.

Sengathi ulimi lwami lunganamathela elwangeni lomlomo wami uba ngingakukhumbuli wena, uba ngingathathi iJerusalema njengentokozo yami ephezu konke.

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.’

Khumbula, Oh Thixo, ama-Edomi akwenzayo mhla iJerusalema ithunjwa. “Lidilizeni,” baklabalala, “lidilizeni kanye lezisekelo zalo!”

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

Wena Ndodakazi yaseBhabhiloni, oqunyelwe ukubhubha, ubusisiwe lowo okuphindiselayo ngalokho okwenzileyo kithi.

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

Ubusisiwe lowo othatha insane zakho, azisakazele ematsheni.