Psalms 137

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

9(not in this translation)