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.

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

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 carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that made us wail mirth, Sing us of the songs of Zion.

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

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

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

If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget;

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.

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to my palate: 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 sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Lay bare, Lay bare, down to its foundation!

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.

Daughter of Babylon, who art to be laid waste, happy he that rendereth unto thee that which thou hast meted out to us.

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

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