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.

Harshly have they persecuted me from my youth,
harshly have they persecuted me, let Israel say.
Harshly have they persecuted me from my youth,
harshly have they persecuted me, but have not prevailed.
Ploughmen ploughed my back,
on my back they drew long furrows.
But the Lord who is just
has broken the yoke of the wicked.
But the Lord who is just
has broken the yoke of the wicked.
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion,
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion.
May they be like the grass growing on the roof,
that withers before it is pulled out;
with it, the reaper never fills his hands,
nor the gatherer of sheaves his lap.
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion,
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion.
Harshly have they persecuted…

Do not get angry because of the wicked,
do not envy those who do evil,
for they shall wither like grass
and dry up like the green of the fields.
Trust in the Lord and do good,
live in your land and be loyal;
let the Lord be your delight
and he will grant you your heart’s desire.
Entrust yourself to the Lord and hope in him,
hope in him and he will act.
He will make your justice shine forth
and your faithfulness like the noonday sun.
Do not get angry…
Keep silent before the Lord and hope in him,
do not get angry about a man who prospers,
who makes his fortune by telling lies:
but trust in the Lord and hope in him.
Do not get angry…
Refrain from anger, forsake your rage,
do not get angry lest you do evil,
for those who do evil will be excluded
but he who hopes in the Lord shall inherit the land.
Wait a little longer, the wicked shall be no more,
look where he was, he is not there.
Instead the humble possess the land
and delight in peace, in great peace.
Do not get angry…