1 By the rivers of Babylon,

there we sat down, yes, we wept,

when we remembered Tziyon.

2 We hung up our kinnorot (lyres)

upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3 For there they that carried us away captive

required of us a shir (song);

and they that tormented us required of us simchah,

saying, Sing us one of the Shir Tziyon.

4 How shall we sing Shir Hashem

in an admat nekhar (foreign land).

5 If I forget thee, O Yerushalayim,

let my yamin (right hand) forget.*i.e., have paralysis

6 If I do not remember thee,

let my leshon cleave to the roof of my mouth;

if I prefer not Yerushalayim

above my rosh simchah (chief joy).

7 Remember, Hashem, the Bnei Edom

in the Yom Yerushalayim;

who said, Raze it, raze it,

even to the yesod (foundation) thereof.

8 O Bat Bavel, who art to be destroyed,

ashrei shall he be, that repayeth thee

the gemul thou hast done to us.

9 Ashrei shall he be,

that taketh and dasheth thy olalim against the sela.