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Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept
    when we remembered Zion.
We hung our harps
    upon the poplars.
For there our captors made us sing
    and our tormentors made us entertain,
    saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

How shall we sing the song of the Lord
    in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
    let my right hand forget its skill.
If I do not remember you,
    let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not have Jerusalem
    as my highest joy.

Remember, O Lord, the people of Edom
    in the day of Jerusalem,
who said, “Raze it, raze it,
    down to its foundations.”

O daughter of Babylon, who is to be destroyed,
    blessed is the one who rewards you
    as you have done to us.
Blessed is the one who takes
    and dashes your little ones against the rocks.

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon(A) we sat and wept(B)
    when we remembered Zion.(C)
There on the poplars(D)
    we hung our harps,(E)
for there our captors(F) asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded(G) songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(H)

How can we sing the songs of the Lord(I)
    while in a foreign land?
If I forget you,(J) Jerusalem,
    may my right hand forget its skill.
May my tongue cling to the roof(K) of my mouth
    if I do not remember(L) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem(M)
    my highest joy.

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites(N) did
    on the day Jerusalem fell.(O)
“Tear it down,” they cried,
    “tear it down to its foundations!”(P)
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,(Q)
    happy is the one who repays you
    according to what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who seizes your infants
    and dashes them(R) against the rocks.