1 B y rivers of Babylon -- There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.

2 O n willows in its midst we hung our harps.

Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.

3 F or there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers -- joy: `Sing ye to us of a song 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 do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?

How shall we sing Jehovah's song In a foreign land?

5 I f I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her skill.

6 M y tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, 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, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, `Rase, rase to its 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, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast 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 O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!

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