1 By Babel’s streams we sat and wept,
when Sion we thought on.
2 In midst thereof we hang’d our harps
the willow-trees upon.
3 For there a song required they,
who did us captive bring:
Our spoilers call’d for mirth, and said,
A song of Sion sing.
4 O how the Lord’s song shall we sing
within a foreign land?
5 If thee, Jerus’lem, I forget,
skill part from my right hand.
6 My tongue to my mouth’s roof let cleave,
if I do thee forget,
Jerusalem, and thee above
my chief joy do not set.
7 Remember Edom’s children, Lord,
who in Jerus’lems day,
Ev’n unto its foundation,
Raze, raze it quite, did say.
8 O daughter thou of Babylon,
near to destruction;
Bless’d shall he be that thee rewards,
as thou to us hast done.
9 Yea, happy surely shall he be
thy tender little ones
Who shall lay hold upon, and them
shall dash against the stones.