Psalmus David, Jeremiæ.

A psalm of David, for Jeremias.

Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, cum recordaremur Sion.

Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion:

We sat down by the streams of Babylon and wept there, remembering Sion.

In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra:

On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments.

Willow-trees grow there, and on these we hung up our harps

quia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos duxerunt nos, verba cantionum; et qui abduxerunt nos: Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.

For there they that led us into captivity required of us the words of songs. And they that carried us away, said: Sing ye to us a hymn of the songs of Sion.

when the men who took us prisoner cried out for a song. We must make sport for our enemies; A stave, there, from the music they sing at Sion!

Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?

How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land?

What, should we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

Si oblitus fuero tui, Jerusalem, oblivioni detur dextera mea.

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.

Jerusalem, if I forget thee, perish the skill of my right hand!

Adhæreat lingua mea faucibus meis, si non meminero tui; si non proposuero Jerusalem in principio lætitiæ meæ.

Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy.

Let my tongue stick fast to the roof of my mouth if I cease to remember thee, if I love not Jerusalem dearer than heart’s content!

Memor esto, Domine, filiorum Edom, in die Jerusalem: qui dicunt: Exinanite, exinanite usque ad fundamentum in ea.

Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem: Who say: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

Remember, Lord, how the sons of Edom triumphed when Jerusalem fell; O’erthrow it, they cried, o’erthrow it, till the very foundation is left bare.

Filia Babylonis misera! beatus qui retribuet tibi retributionem tuam quam retribuisti nobis.

O daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us.

Babylon, pitiless queen, blessed be the man who deals out to thee the measure thou hast dealt to us;

Beatus qui tenebit, et allidet parvulos tuos ad petram.

Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock.

blessed be the man who will catch up thy children, and dash them against the rocks!