Psalm 137 | King James Version

1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 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. 4 How shall we sing the LORD' song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning . 6 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. 7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it , rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be , that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 9 Happy shall he be , that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

New International Reader’s Version

1 We were sitting by the rivers of Babylon. We wept when we remembered what had happened to Zion. 2 On the nearby poplar trees we hung up our harps. 3 Those 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!’ 4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while we are in another land? 5 Jerusalem, if I forget you, may my right hand never be able to play the harp again. 6 If 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. 7 LORD, remember what the people of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell. ‘Tear it down!’ they cried. ‘Tear it down to the ground!’ 8 People of Babylon, you are sentenced to be destroyed. Happy is the person who pays you back according to what you have done to us. 9 Happy is the person who grabs your babies and smashes them against the rocks.

Psalm 137 | King James Version New International Reader’s Version