Psalms 137

1 By rivers of Babylon — There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion,

2 On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.

3 For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers — joy: 'Sing ye to us of a song of Zion.'

For there those who had taken us prisoners made request for a song; and those who had taken away all we had gave us orders to be glad, saying, Give us one of the songs of Zion.

4 How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?

How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!

If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art.

6 My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

If I let you go out of my thoughts, and if I do not put Jerusalem before my greatest joy, let my tongue be fixed to the roof of my mouth.

7 Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, 'Rase, rase to its foundation!'

O Lord, keep in mind against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; how they said, Let it be uncovered, uncovered even to its base.

8 O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us.

O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us.

9 O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!

Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.