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137 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down.
    Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
On the willows in that land,
    we hung up our harps.
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!”
How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
    let my right hand forget its skill.
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.
Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem,
    who said, “Raze it!
    Raze it even to its foundation!”
Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
    he will be happy who repays you,
    as you have done to us.
Happy shall he be,
    who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon, there we [captives] sat down, yes, we wept when we [earnestly] remembered Zion [the city of our God imprinted on our hearts].

On the willow trees in the midst of [Babylon] we hung our harps.

For there they who led us captive required of us a song with words, and our tormentors and they who 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 you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill [with the harp].

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I remember you not, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy!(A)

Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites, that they said in the day of Jerusalem’s fall, Down, down to the ground with her!

O Daughter of Babylon [you devastator, you!], who [ought to be and] shall be destroyed, happy and blessed shall he be who requites you as you have served us.(B)

Happy and blessed shall he be who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!