Psalms 137

1 When we [had been taken to] Babylonia, [far from Jerusalem], we sat down by the rivers there, and we cried when we thought about [the temple on] Zion [Hill in Jerusalem].

At [the] rivers of - Babylon there we sat also we wept when remembered we Zion.

2 On the willow trees [alongside the rivers] we hung our harps [because we did not want to play them any more because we were very sad].

On poplars in [the] midst of it we hung up harps our.

3 The [soldiers] who had captured us [and taken us to Babylonia] told us to sing [for them]; they told us to (entertain them/make them happy), saying, “Sing for us one of the songs [that you previously sang in] Jerusalem!”

For there they asked us captors our words of a song and mockers our gladness sing for us one of [the] song[s] of Zion.

4 But [we thought], “We [are sad because we have been punished by Yahweh and brought to this] foreign land, so we cannot [RHQ] sing songs about Yahweh while we are here!”

How? will we sing [the] song of Yahweh on ground of foreignness.

5 If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]

If I will forget you O Jerusalem may it forget right [hand] my.

6 Do not allow me to sing again [MTY], if I forget about Jerusalem, if I do not consider that Jerusalem causes me to be more joyful than anything else does.

May it cleave tongue my - to palate my if not I will remember you if not I will lift up Jerusalem above [the] chief of joy my.

7 Yahweh, [punish] the people of the Edom people-group for what they did on the day that the army of Babylon captured Jerusalem. Do not forget that they said, “Tear down all the buildings! Destroy them completely! Leave only the foundations!”

Remember O Yahweh - to [the] people of Edom [the] day of Jerusalem who were saying lay bare - lay bare to the foundation in it.

8 And you people of Babylon, you will certainly be destroyed! Those who punish you in return for what you did to us will be happy;

O daughter of Babylon that is about to be destroyed how blessed! [is one] who he will repay to you dealing your that you dealt to us.

9 they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.

How blessed! - [is one] who he will seize and he will smash children your to the rock.