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Psalms 137

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps on the willows there. For those who carried us away captive demanded a song from us, and those who wasted us wanted entertainment: 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.' How can we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?

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By the rivers of Babylon

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps on the willows there. For those who carried us away captive demanded a song from us, and those who wasted us wanted entertainment: 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.' How can we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill. Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you, if I don't put Jerusalem above my highest joy. Remember, LORD, what the children of Edom did in the day Jerusalem fell, when they said, 'Tear it down! Tear it right down to its foundations!' Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed will be the one who repays you for what you've done to us. Blessed will be the one who takes your little ones and dashes them against the stones.

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps on the willows in the middle of it. Because the ones who carried us off asked us for a song there, and the ones who wrecked us wanted us cheerful: Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget what it knows. If I don't remember you, let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth — if I don't put Jerusalem above the best joy I've got. Remember the people of Edom, Lord, on the day of Jerusalem — the ones who said: Strip it, strip it, right down to the foundation. Daughter of Babylon, marked for wrecking — happy is the one who pays you back what you've handed out to us. Happy is the one who takes your little ones and smashes them against the stones.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 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. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 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. Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

1

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.

King James Version, 1611

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2

We hung our harps on the willows there.

Plain English

We hung our harps on the willows in the middle of it.

King James Version, 1611

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3

For those who carried us away captive demanded a song from us, and those who wasted us wanted entertainment: 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'

Plain English

Because the ones who carried us off asked us for a song there, and the ones who wrecked us wanted us cheerful: Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

King James Version, 1611

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 can we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?

Plain English

How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

King James Version, 1611

How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?

5

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill.

Plain English

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget what it knows.

King James Version, 1611

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

6

Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you, if I don't put Jerusalem above my highest joy.

Plain English

If I don't remember you, let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth — if I don't put Jerusalem above the best joy I've got.

King James Version, 1611

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, LORD, what the children of Edom did in the day Jerusalem fell, when they said, 'Tear it down! Tear it right down to its foundations!'

Plain English

Remember the people of Edom, Lord, on the day of Jerusalem — the ones who said: Strip it, strip it, right down to the foundation.

King James Version, 1611

Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

8

Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed will be the one who repays you for what you've done to us.

Plain English

Daughter of Babylon, marked for wrecking — happy is the one who pays you back what you've handed out to us.

King James Version, 1611

O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

9

Blessed will be the one who takes your little ones and dashes them against the stones.

Plain English

Happy is the one who takes your little ones and smashes them against the stones.

King James Version, 1611

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.