1By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.2On the willows[1] 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? (Ne 2:3)5If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! (Ps 76:5)6Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! (Job 29:10; Eze 3:26)7Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” (Job 18:20; Isa 34:5; Jer 49:7; La 4:21; Eze 25:12; Eze 35:2; Am 1:11; Ob 1:8; Hab 3:13; Zep 2:14)8O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! (Ps 28:4; Isa 13:1; Isa 21:9; Isa 47:1; Jer 25:12; Jer 50:1; Jer 51:1; Jer 51:24; Jer 51:56)9Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock! (2Ki 8:12; Isa 13:16; Ho 10:14; Na 3:10)
Psalm 137
New International Version
1By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.2There on the poplars we hung our harps,3for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’4How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?5If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.6May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.7Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. ‘Tear it down,’ they cried, ‘tear it down to its foundations!’8Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us.9Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
Psalm 137
King James Version
1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.3For 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.4How shall we sing the LORD' song in a strange land?5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning .6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.7Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it , rase it, even to the foundation thereof.8O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be , that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.9Happy shall he be , that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
Psalm 137
New International Reader’s Version
1We were sitting by the rivers of Babylon. We wept when we remembered what had happened to Zion.2On the nearby poplar trees we hung up our harps.3Those who held us as prisoners asked us to sing. Those who enjoyed hurting us ordered us to sing joyful songs. They said, ‘Sing one of the songs of Zion to us!’4How can we sing the songs of the LORD while we are in another land?5Jerusalem, if I forget you, may my right hand never be able to play the harp again.6If I don’t remember you, may my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth so I can’t sing. May it happen if I don’t consider Jerusalem to be my greatest joy.7LORD, remember what the people of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell. ‘Tear it down!’ they cried. ‘Tear it down to the ground!’8People of Babylon, you are sentenced to be destroyed. Happy is the person who pays you back according to what you have done to us.9Happy is the person who grabs your babies and smashes them against the rocks.