1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, Yea we wept when we remembered thee, O Zion!
2 Upon the willows, in the midst thereof, We hanged our harps.
3 Then they required of us, they who carried us away captive, the words of a song, And, when we were in suspense, mirth, [Saying] Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”
4 How shall we sing the song of Jehovah, In a strange land?
5 If I shall forget thee, O Jerusalem! Forget let my right hand [its cunning.]
6 Cleave let my tongue to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not raise Jerusalem above my highest joy.
7 Remember, O Jehovah! the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem: ‘Who said, “Lay it bare — “Lay it bare, even to the foundations thereof.”
8 O daughter of Babylon laid waste! Happy he who shall repay thee The retribution with which thou hast retributed us!
9 Happy he who shall take And dash thy little ones against the stones.
Psalm 138
Of David
1 I will celebrate thee with my whole heart; Before the gods! will sing psalms to thee.
2 I will worship thee towards the temple of thy holiness, And sing to thy name for thy mercy and for thy truth; For thou hast magnified above all things thy name by thy word.
3 In the day when, I cried to thee, then thou heardest me, Thou didst abundantly minister to me strength in my soul.
4 Celebrate thee, O Jehovah! let all the kings of the earth; For they have heard the words of thy mouth.
5 And let them sing in the ways of Jehovah, For great is the glory of Jehovah.
6 For high is Jehovah; yet the lowly he will regard; And being high will know afar off:
7 If I shall walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me; Against the wrath of my enemies thou wilt put forth thy hand, And save me shall thy right hand.
8 Jehovah will perform in me his work, O Jehovah! thy mercy is from everlasting; The works of thy hands thou wilt not forsake.