Psalms 137

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

1By rivers of Babylon--There we did sit, 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.

2On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

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.

3For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers--joy: `Sing ye to us of a song 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?

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

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.

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

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.

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

7Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, `Rase, rase 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.

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

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

9(not in this translation)