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, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.

2 T here upon the trees we put our harps.

Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up 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 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 song of the Lord in a strange 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 what it is able to do.

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her 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 thee 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 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 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, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.

9 H ow honored will be the one who catches your children and throws them against the rock!

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