The Book of Psalms

By rivers of Babylon—There we sat, || Indeed, we wept when we remembered Zion.

We hung our harps on willows in its midst.

For there our captors asked us the words of a song, || And our spoilers—joy: “Sing to us of a song of Zion.”

How do we sing the song of YHWH, || On the land of a stranger?

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgets!

My tongue cleaves to my palate, || If I do not remember you, || If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Remember, YHWH, for the sons of Edom, || The day of Jerusalem, || Those saying, “Raze, raze to its foundation!”

O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, || O the blessedness of him who repays to you your deed, || That you have done to us.

O the blessedness of him who seizes, and has dashed your sucklings on the rock!

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.

For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

How can we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Remember, LORD, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”

Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us.

Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.