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137 We were sitting by the rivers of Babylon.
    We wept when we remembered what had happened to Zion.
On the nearby poplar trees
    we hung up our harps.
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!”

How can we sing the songs of the Lord
    while we are in another land?
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
    may my right hand never be able to play the harp again.
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.

Lord, remember what the people of Edom did
    on the day Jerusalem fell.
“Tear it down!” they cried.
    “Tear it down to the ground!”

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.
Happy is the person who grabs your babies
    and smashes them against the rocks.

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon(A) we sat and wept(B)
    when we remembered Zion.(C)
There on the poplars(D)
    we hung our harps,(E)
for there our captors(F) asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded(G) songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(H)

How can we sing the songs of the Lord(I)
    while in a foreign land?
If I forget you,(J) Jerusalem,
    may my right hand forget its skill.
May my tongue cling to the roof(K) of my mouth
    if I do not remember(L) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem(M)
    my highest joy.

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites(N) did
    on the day Jerusalem fell.(O)
“Tear it down,” they cried,
    “tear it down to its foundations!”(P)
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,(Q)
    happy is the one who repays you
    according to what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who seizes your infants
    and dashes them(R) against the rocks.