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. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

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

On the willows in that land, we hung 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, 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!”

4 H ow do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?

How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?

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

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its 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 stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you; if I don’t prefer 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, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”

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.

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

9 O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!

Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.