Psalms 137

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

For David, [a Psalm] of Jeremias. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat; and wept when we remembered Sion.

2 On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

We hung our harps on the willows in the midst of it.

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 they that had taken us captive asked of us the words of a song; and they that had carried us away [asked] a hymn, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Sion.

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

How should we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

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

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill].

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

May my tongue cleave to my throat, if I do not remember thee; if I do not prefer Jerusalem as the chief of my joy.

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

Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it], even to its foundations.

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.

Wretched daughter of Babylon! blessed [shall he be] who shall reward thee as thou hast rewarded us.

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

Blessed [shall he be] who shall seize and dash thine infants against the rock.