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.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help,
with a spirit of fervour sustain me
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
Rescue me, O God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse;
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit
a humbled contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness show favour to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.

Have mercy on me, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me.
My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done. *
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help,
with a spirit of fervour sustain me
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
Rescue me, O God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse;
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,
a humbled contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness show favour to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.
Have mercy on me…

As a doe yearns for running streams,
so my soul is thirsting for you, my God,
My soul is thirsting for God, for the living God,
when shall I see the face of God?
Tears are my food day and night,
while my enemies say to me all day long:
"Where is your God? Where is your God?
Where is your God?"
My soul is filled with sadness
when I remember
how I used to walk
in the midst of a people rejoicing.
Why are you downcast my soul,
why do you sigh within me?
Hope in God, hope in God,
and you will praise him again.
Because he, he is my salvation.
He is my God, he is my God.
Hope in God, hope in God,
hope in God, hope in God,
and you will praise him again.
How many times have I said to God, my rock:
"Why have you forsaken me? "
Why do I walk
sadly oppressed by my enemies?
My bones are crushed
from hearing all day long:
"Where is your God?
Where is your God?"
Lord, send your light and your truth:
let them lead me to your holy temple,
then I will be able to sing to you a song of feast,
a song of joy on my guitar.
Why are you downcast my soul…

Lord, listen to my prayer,
pay heed to my supplication.
You who are faithful,
you who are faithful, answer me;
in your justice, answer me.
Do not call your servant to judgement,
no one is just in your sight.
The enemy pursues me,
crushes my life to the ground.
You who are faithful…
To you I stretch out my hands,
like a parched land I stand before you.
Answer me soon, O Lord,
my spirit faints within me.
You who are faithful…
Let me know the way,
the path to walk.
Save me from my enemies,
I entrust myself to you, O Lord.
You who are faithful…
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit guide me,
let your good spirit guide me on level ground.
You who are faithful,
you who are faithful, answer me;
in your justice, answer me.

This is my servant, whom I have chosen.
This is my servant, whom I have chosen.
My beloved, in whom my soul takes delight;
my beloved, whom I have chosen.
My Spirit will rest upon him
and he will announce justice to all the nations;
and he will announce justice to all the nations.
He will not raise his voice nor cry out,
no one will hear his voice in the street.
The crushed reed he will not break,
the wavering flame he will not quench,
until he wins the victory for justice,
until he wins the victory for justice.
And in his name, in his name
all the nations will put their hope.
The crushed reed he will not break...