1By the rivers of Babylon,
there we sat down, yes, we wept,
when we remembered Tziyon.

2We hung up our kinnorot (lyres)
upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3For 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.

4How shall we sing Shir Hashem
in an admat nekhar (foreign land).

5If I forget thee, O Yerushalayim,
let my yamin (right hand) forget. ¹⁷⁰

6If 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).

7Remember, Hashem, the Bnei Edom
in the Yom Yerushalayim;
who said, Raze it, raze it,
even to the yesod (foundation) thereof.

8O Bat Bavel, who art to be destroyed,
ashrei shall he be, that repayeth thee
the gemul thou hast done to us.

9Ashrei shall he be,
that taketh and dasheth thy olalim against the sela.