1 W e sat down and cried by the rivers of Babylon when we remembered Zion.

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

2 T here upon the trees we put our harps.

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

3 F or those who held us there made us sing. And those who made it hard for us asked for joy. They said, “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 song of the Lord in a strange 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 what it is able to do.

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

6 M ay my tongue hold to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not honor Jerusalem above my highest 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 O Lord, remember what the sons of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Knock it down,” they said, “Knock it down to the ground.”

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 who will be destroyed, how honored will be the one who pays you back for what you have done to 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 honored will be the one who catches your children and throws them against the rock!

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