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

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

2 W e hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof;

On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

3 w hen there, those that carried us away captive asked us for the words of the song; with our harps of joy hung upon the willows saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

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

4 H ow shall we sing the song of the LORD in the land of strangers?

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

5 I f I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand shall be forgotten.

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

6 I f I do not remember thee, my tongue shall cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer to lift up Jerusalem as my chief joy.

My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 ¶ Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.

Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, `Rase, rase to its foundation!'

8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards thee as thou hast served us.

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

9 H appy shall he be, that takes and dashes thy offspring against the stones.

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