King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
1
By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
2
On the willows there we hung up our harps.
3 For 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.
3
For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
4
How could we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
6
Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.
7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
7
Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem's fall, how they said, "Tear it down! Tear it down! Down to its foundations!"
8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
8
O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us!
9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
9
Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.