The Darby Translation DBY
New International Version NIV
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.
1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
2
There on the poplars we hung our harps,
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that made us wail [required] mirth, [saying,] Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.
3
for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How should we sing a song of Jehovah's upon a foreign soil?
4
How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill];
5
If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to my palate: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
6
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.