By the Rivers of Babylon
(Ezekiel 1:1-3)
1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
8O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
By the Rivers of Babylon
(Ezekiel 1:1–3)
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 On the willows in its midst, we hung up our harps.
3 For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you; if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7 Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”
8 Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who rewards you, as you have served us.
9 Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.
By the Rivers of Babylon
(Ezekiel 1:1–3)
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
2 There on the willows a
we hung our harps,
3 for there our captors requested a song;
our tormentors demanded songs of joy:
“Sing us a song of Zion.”
4 How can we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may my right hand cease to function.
6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not exalt Jerusalem
as my greatest joy!
7 Remember, O LORD,
the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell:
“Destroy it,” they said,
“tear it down to its foundations!”
8 O Daughter of Babylon,
doomed to destruction,
blessed is he who repays you
as you have done to us.
9 Blessed is he who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.
Footnotes:
2 a Or poplars
By the Rivers of Babylon
(Ezekiel 1:1-3)
1By rivers of Babylon -- There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.
2On willows in its midst we hung our harps.
3For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers -- joy: 'Sing ye to us of a song of Zion.'
4How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!
6My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, 'Rase, rase to its foundation!'
8O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us.
9O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!
