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, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.

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

Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up 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 that led us captive required of us songs, And they that 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 Jehovah's song In a foreign land?

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

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her 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 thee 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 Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof.

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, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.

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

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock.