< Psalms 137 >

1 By rivers of Babylon — There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.
Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion:
2 On willows in its midst we hung our harps.
On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments.
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 led us into captivity required of us the words of songs. And they that carried us away, said: Sing ye to us a hymn of the songs of Sion.
4 How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?
How shall we sing the song of the Lord 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 be forgotten.
6 My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning 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 say: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
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, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us.
9 O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!
Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock.

< Psalms 137 >