1 B y the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

I te taha o nga wai o Papurona, noho ana tatou i reira, ae, tangi ana tatou, ia tatou i mahara ai ki Hiona.

2 O n the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.

Whakairia ake e tatou a tatou hapa ki runga ki nga wirou i waenganui o reira.

3 F or there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

No te mea i tono i reira te hunga nana tatou i herehere ki etahi waiata i a tatou, me te hunga nana tatou i tukino i tono mai he hari i a tatou, i mea mai, Waiatatia mai ki a matou tetahi o nga waiate o Hiona.

4 H ow can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?

Me pehea matou ka waiata ai i te waiata a Ihowa i te whenua tauhou?

5 I f I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.

Ki te wareware ahau ki a koe, e Hiruharama, kia wareware toku ringa matau ki tana mahi.

6 L et my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you; if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Ki te kore ahau e mahara ki a koe, kia piri toku arero ki toku ngao; ki te kore ahau e whakanui i Hiruharama ki runga ake i taku mea i tino hari ai.

7 R emember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”

E Ihowa, maharatia nga tama a Eroma i te ra o Hiruharama; ta ratou meatanga, Whakahoroa, whakahoroa, a taea rawatia ano tona turanga.

8 D aughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who rewards you, as you have served us.

E te tamahine o Papurona, meake nei whakangaromia, ka hari te tangata e utua ai koe mo tau i mea ai ki a matou.

9 H appy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.

Ka hari te tangata e hopu ana, e ta ana i au mea nohinohi ki runga ki te kohatu.