Beside the rivers of Babylon,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.
On the willows we hung up our guitars,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.
"Sing" – our enemies told us;
"sing" – our oppressors told us;
they wanted us to sing songs of joy.
How could we sing
the Lord’s song in a foreign land?
If I forget you Jerusalem,
may my right hand wither;
may my tongue cleave to my mouth
if I don’t remember you, Jerusalem,
above all my joys.
Lord, ask account of our enemies,
Lord, ask account of our oppressors,
when they say to each other:
"Raze it to its foundations."
Capital
of criminal Babylon!
Who could repay you the evil
you have done to us?
Who could crush your little ones against the rock?
Beside the rivers of Babylon,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.
On the willows we hung up our guitars,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.

Her foundations are on the holy mountains:
the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all Jacob's dwellings;
Of you are told glorious things,
City of God!
I will remember Rahab and Babylon,
Palestine, Tyre and Ethiopia,
when someone is born in them,
men say: 'There, this man was born.'
But of Zion, all say 'Mother!'
For all were born in her.
For all were born in her.
The Lord himself has founded her!
The Lord himself has founded her!
Mother, Mother, city of God!
The Lord writes in the book of the peoples:
'This man was born in her;'
and while dancing they will sing:
'In you are all my fountains.'
And while dancing, while dancing they will sing:
And while dancing, while dancing they will sing:
'all my fountains are in you.'
'All my fountains are in you.'
'Mother, Mother, city of God!'
For all…
And while dancing…