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Psalm 137

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.

Longing for Zion in a Foreign Land

137 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who (A)plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

How shall we sing the Lord’s song
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 (B)tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

Remember, O Lord, against (C)the sons of Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Who said, [a]“Raze it, raze it,
To its very foundation!”

O daughter of Babylon, (D)who are to be destroyed,
Happy the one (E)who repays you as you have served us!
Happy the one who takes and (F)dashes
Your little ones against the rock!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 137:7 Lit. Make bare

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.

Recuerdos del cautiverio en Babilonia

137 Junto a los ríos de Babilonia,
Nos sentábamos a llorar al acordarnos de Sión.
Sobre los sauces de la ciudad
colgamos nuestras arpas.
Los que nos capturaron, nos pedían que cantáramos.
Nuestros opresores nos pedían estar contentos. Decían:
«¡Canten algunos de sus cánticos de Sión!»

¿Y cómo podríamos cantarle al Señor
en un país extranjero?
Jerusalén,
si acaso llego a olvidarme de ti,
¡que la mano derecha se me tulla!
Jerusalén,
¡que la lengua se me pegue al paladar,
si acaso no llego a recordarte
ni te pongo por encima de mis alegrías!

Señor, recuerda lo que decían los edomitas
el día que Jerusalén fue destruida:
«¡Arrásenla, destrúyanla hasta sus cimientos!»

¡También tú, Babilonia, serás arrasada!
¡Dichoso el que te dé tu merecido
por todo el mal que nos hiciste!(A)
¡Dichoso el que agarre a tus niños
y los estrelle contra las rocas!

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.