Psalm 137 Contemporary English Version

A Prayer for Revenge

¹Beside the rivers of Babylon
we thought about Jerusalem,
    and we sat down and cried.
²We hung our small harps
    on the willow^[a] trees.
³Our enemies had brought us here
    as their prisoners;
now they wanted us to sing
    and entertain them.
They insulted us and shouted,
    “Sing about Zion!”

⁴Here in a foreign land,
how can we sing
    about the Lord?
⁵Jerusalem, if I forget you,
    let my right hand go limp.
⁶Let my tongue stick
    to the roof of my mouth,
if I don't think about you
    above all else.

⁷Our Lord, punish the Edomites!
On the day Jerusalem fell,
they shouted,
“Completely destroy the city!
Tear down every building!”

⁸^(A) Babylon, you are doomed!
    I pray the Lord's blessings
on anyone who punishes you
    for what you did to us.
⁹May the Lord bless everyone
who beats your children
    against the rocks!