1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3For 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.a song: Heb. the words of a songwasted…: Heb. laid us on heaps

4How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?strange…: Heb. land of a stranger?

5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.my chief…: Heb. the head of my joy

7Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.Rase it: Heb. Make bare

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

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