Psalms 137

1By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion,

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

1For David himself. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: for thou hast heard the words of my mouth. I will sing praise to thee in the sight of the angels:

2Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.

2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

2I will worship towards thy holy temple, and I will give glory to thy name. For thy mercy, and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy holy name above all.

3For 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.

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

3In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me: thou shalt multiply strength in my soul.

4How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?

4 How should we sing a song of Jehovah's upon a foreign soil?

4May all the kings of the earth give glory to thee: for they have heard all the words of thy mouth.

5If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art.

5 If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill];

5And let them sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.

6If 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.

6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to my palate: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

6For the Lord is high, and looketh on the low: and the high he knoweth afar off.

7O 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.

7 Remember, O Jehovah, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Lay [it] bare, Lay [it] bare, down to its foundation!

7If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken me: and thou hast stretched forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies: and thy right hand hath saved me.

8O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us.

8 Daughter of Babylon, who art to be laid waste, happy he that rendereth unto thee that which thou hast meted out to us.

8The Lord will repay for me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: O despise not the works of thy hands.

9Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.

9 Happy he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.

9(not in this translation)