Psalms 137

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Ref By rivers of Babylon -- There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 Ref On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

3 Ref For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers -- joy: `Sing ye to us of a song of Zion.'

4 Ref How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?

5 Ref If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!

6 Ref My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Ref Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, `Rase, rase to its foundation!'

8 Ref O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us.

9 Ref O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion,

2 Ref Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.

3 Ref For there those who had taken us prisoners made request for a song; and those who had taken away all we had gave us orders to be glad, saying, Give us one of the songs of Zion.

4 Ref How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land?

5 Ref If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art.

6 Ref If I let you go out of my thoughts, and if I do not put Jerusalem before my greatest joy, let my tongue be fixed to the roof of my mouth.

7 Ref O Lord, keep in mind against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; how they said, Let it be uncovered, uncovered even to its base.

8 Ref O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us.

9 Ref Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.

2 Ref Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.

3 Ref For there they that led us captive required of us songs, And they that wasted us `required of us' mirth, `saying', Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

4 Ref How shall we sing Jehovah's song In a foreign land?

5 Ref If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget `her skill'.

6 Ref Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

7 Ref Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof.

8 Ref O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.

9 Ref Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock. Psalm 138 A `Psalm' of David.

Chapter 137 of 150

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