137 When we sat down beside the rivers in Babylon,
we were very upset.
We thought about Zion city that we had left behind,
and we wept. [ b ]
2 We hung up our harps there
on the branches of the willow trees.
3 Our enemies asked us to sing songs for them there.
They laughed at us as their prisoners.
They asked for a song to make them happy.
They shouted, ‘Sing us a song about Zion!’
4 But we are in a foreign land,
so we cannot sing a song to the Lord .
5 Jerusalem, I never want to forget you.
I would rather lose my right hand!
6 I would rather my tongue could no longer move! [ c ]
Yes, I will always remember you, Jerusalem.
You are the most important thing that I think about,
more than anything else that makes me happy.
7 Lord , remember to punish the people of Edom. [ d ]
They were happy when Babylon's army won against Jerusalem.
On that day the Edomites said,
‘Knock down the city so that nothing still stands!’
8 People of Babylon, an army will soon destroy you!
They will punish you in the same way that you punished us.
May God bless whoever does that to you!
9 Just like you did to us,
they will hit your babies against a rock.
May God bless whoever does that to you!
137 We sat by the rivers in Babylon
and cried as we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps nearby, there on the willow trees. [ a ]
3 There in Babylon, those who captured us told us to sing.
Our enemies told us to entertain them.
They said, “Sing us one of your songs about Zion.”
4 But we cannot sing the Lord ’s songs
in a foreign country!
5 Jerusalem, if I ever forget you,
may I never play a song again.
6 If I fail to remember you,
may I never sing again.
I will always remember Jerusalem
as my greatest joy!
7 Lord , be sure to punish the Edomites for what they did
when Jerusalem was captured.
They shouted, “Destroy its buildings!
Pull them down to the ground!”
8 Babylon, you will be destroyed!
Bless the one who pays you back for what you did to us.
9 Bless the one who grabs your babies
and smashes them against a rock.
137 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4 How shall we sing the Lord 's song in a strange land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7 Remember, O Lord , the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
137 By the ( A ) rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and ( B ) wept,
When we remembered Zion.
2 Upon the [ a ] ( C ) willows in the midst of it
We ( D ) hung our [ b ] harps.
3 For there our captors [ c ] ( E ) demanded of us [ d ] songs,
And ( F ) our tormentors, jubilation, saying ,
“Sing for us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How can we sing ( G ) the Lord ’ s song
In a foreign land?
5 If I ( H ) forget you, Jerusalem,
May my right hand [ e ] forget its skill .
6 May my ( I ) tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you,
If I do not [ f ] ( J ) exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.
7 Remember, Lord , against the sons of ( K ) Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Those who said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare
( L ) To its foundation!”
8 Daughter of Babylon, you [ g ] ( M ) devastated one,
Blessed will be one who ( N ) repays you
With [ h ] the retribution with which you have repaid us.
9 Blessed will be one who seizes and ( O ) dashes your children
Against the rock.
1 By the rivers of Babylon ( A ) we sat and wept ( B )
when we remembered Zion. ( C )
2 There on the poplars ( D )
we hung our harps, ( E )
3 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 )
4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord ( I )
while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, ( J ) Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.
6 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.
7 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 )
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, ( Q )
happy is the one who repays you
according to what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them ( R ) against the rocks.
