1By the waters137.1 Heb streams of Babylon,

there we sat down and wept,

when we remembered Zion.

2On the willows137.2 Or poplars there

we hung up our lyres.

3For there our captors

required of us songs,

and our tormentors, mirth, saying,

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4How shall we sing the LORD's song

in a foreign land?

5If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

let my right hand wither!

6Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,

if I do not remember you,

if I do not set Jerusalem

above my highest joy!

7Remember, O LORD, against the E'domites

the day of Jerusalem,

how they said, “Rase it, rase it!

Down to its foundations!”

8O daughter of Babylon, you devastator!137.8 Or you who are devastated

Happy shall he be who requites you

with what you have done to us!

9Happy shall he be who takes your little ones

and dashes them against the rock!