Psalms 137

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

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

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

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

3 For, there, our captors asked of us words of song, and our plunderers—gladness, —Sing us 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 shall we sing the song of Yahweh, on a foreign soil?

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

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

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

6 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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