Psalms 137

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

A Psalm of David: to Jeremiah. Above the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept, while we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps upon the willows in its midst.

By the willow trees, in their midst, we hung up our instruments.

3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

For, in that place, those who led us into captivity questioned us about the words of the songs. And those who carried us away said: “Sing us a hymn from the songs of Zion.”

4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land?

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

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill.

If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.

6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

May my tongue adhere to my jaws, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem first, as the beginning of my joy.

7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to its foundation

O Lord, call to mind the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, who say: “Despoil it, despoil it, even to its foundation.”

8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

O daughter of Babylon, have pity. Blessed is he who will repay you with your payment, which you have paid to us.

9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Blessed is he who will take hold of your little ones and dash them against the rock.