New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 By the rivers in Babylon we sat and cried when we remembered Jerusalem.
1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
2 On the poplar trees nearby we hung our harps.
2
There on the poplars we hung our harps,
3 Those who captured us asked us to sing; our enemies wanted happy songs. They said, "Sing us a song about Jerusalem!"
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 But we cannot sing songs about the Lord while we are in this foreign country!
4
How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?
5 Jerusalem, if I forget you, let my right hand lose its skill.
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If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not think about Jerusalem as my greatest 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.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.