Psalm 137

Psalm 137 – By the Waters of Babylon

1By the waters of Babylon there we sat,

and we wept at the thought of Zion.

2There on the poplars we hung our harps.

3For there our captors called for a song:

our tormentors, rejoicing, saying:

‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion.’

4How can we sing the Lord’s song

in the foreigner’s land?

5If I forget you, Jerusalem,

may my right hand wither.

6May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,

if I am unmindful of you,

or don’t set Jerusalem

above my chief joy.

7Remember the Edomites, Lord,

the day of Jerusalem’s fall,

when they said, ‘Lay her bare, lay her bare,

right down to her very foundation.’

8Babylon, despoiler,

happy are those who pay you back

for all you have done to us.

9Happy are they who seize and dash

your children against the rocks.