¹Along the banks of Babylon’s rivers

we sat as exiles, mourning our captivity,

and wept with great love for Zion.

²Our music and mirth were no longer heard, only sadness .

We hung up our harps on the willow trees.

³Our captors tormented us, saying, “Make music for us and

sing one of your happy Zion-songs!”

⁴But how could we sing the song of the Lord

in this foreign wilderness?

⁵May my hands never make music again

if I ever forget you, O Jerusalem.

⁶May I never be able to sing again if I fail to honor Jerusalem supremely!

⁷And Lord, may you never forget

what the sons of Edom did to us, saying,

“Let’s raze the city of Jerusalem and burn it to the ground!”

⁸Listen, O Babylon, you evil destroyer!

The one who destroys you will be rewarded above all others.

You will be repaid for what you’ve done to us.

⁹Great honor will come to those who destroy you and your future,

by smashing your infants against the rubble of your own destruction.