King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
1
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and 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 lyres.
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 required of us songs, and our tormentors, 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 shall 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 cleave 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 E'domites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, "Rase it, rase it! 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 of Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall he be who requites you with what you have done to us!
9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
9
Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.