1 B y the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion.

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

2 U pon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps.

On the willow trees in the midst of we hung our harps.

3 F or there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

For there they who led us captive required of us a song with words, and our tormentors and they who wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

4 H ow can we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land?

How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

5 I f I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill.

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

6 M ay my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I remember you not, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy!

7 R emember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, “Raze it, raze it To its very foundation.”

Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites, that they said in the day of Jerusalem’s fall, Down, down to the ground with her!

8 O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, How blessed will be the one who repays you With the recompense with which you have repaid us.

O Daughter of Babylon, who shall be destroyed, happy and blessed shall he be who requites you as you have served us.

9 H ow blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.

Happy and blessed shall he be who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!