1.
When as we sat in Babylon,
The rivers round about:
and in remembrance of Sion,
the tears for grief burst out.
We hanged our harps and instruments
the willow trees upon:
For in that place men for their use
had planted many one.
2.
Then they to whom we pris’ners were
said to us tauntingly:
Now let us heave your Hebrew songs,
and pleasant melody.
Alas! said we, who can once frame,
his sorrowful heart to sing:
The praises of our living God,
thus under a strange King?
3.
But yet if I Jerusalem,
out of my heart let slide:
Then let my fingers quite forget,
the warbling harp to guide.
And let my tongue within my mouth,
be tied for ever fast:
If that I joy before I see,
thy full deliverance passed
4.
Therefore, O Lord, remember now,
the cursèd noise and cry:
That Edom’s sons against us made,
when they razed our city.
Remember, Lord, their cruel words,
when as with one accord:
They cried on, sack and raze their walls
in despite of the Lord.
5.
Even so shalt thou, O Babylon,
at length to dust be brought:
And happy shall that man be called,
that our revenge hath wrought.
Yea blessèd shall that man be called,
that takes thy children young:
To dash their bones against hard stones,
which lie the streets among.