Psalms 137

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

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

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

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

2On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

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

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 our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers--joy: `Sing ye to us of a song 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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