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.*137.3 a song: Heb. the words of a song*137.3 wasted…: Heb. laid us on heaps

4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?*137.4 strange…: Heb. land of a stranger?

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.*137.6 my chief…: Heb. the head of my 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.*137.7 Rase it: Heb. Make bare

8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.*137.8 destroyed: Heb. wasted*137.8 rewardeth…: Heb. recompenseth unto thee thy deed which thou didst to us

9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.*137.9 the stones: Heb. the rock

1 BY die riviere van Babel, daar het ons gesit, ook geween as ons aan Sion dink.

2 Aan die wilgerbome wat daarin is, het ons ons siters opgehang.

3 Want daar het hulle wat ons as gevangenes weggevoer het, van ons die woorde van 'n lied gevra en hulle wat ons verdruk het, vreugde, deur te sê: Sing vir ons 'n Sionslied.

4 Hoe sou ons die lied van die Here kan sing in 'n vreemde land?

5 As ek jou vergeet, o Jerusalem, laat my regterhand dan homself vergeet!

6 Laat my tong kleef aan my verhemelte as ek aan jou nie dink nie, as ek Jerusalem nie verhef bo my hoogste vreugde nie.

7 Here, bring in herinnering vir die kinders van Edom die dag van Jerusalem, hulle wat gesê het: Breek weg, breek weg, tot op die grond met hom!

8 o Dogter van Babel, jy verwoeste, gelukkig is hy wat jou sal vergeld wat jy ons aangedoen het!

9 Gelukkig is hy wat jou kinders gryp en verpletter teen die rots!