Tears may come today but

joy comes in the morning

We were sitting by the rivers of Babylon.
We cried when we remembered what had happened to Zion.

2 On the nearby poplar trees
we hung up our harps.

3 Those who held us as prisoners asked us to sing.
Those who enjoyed hurting us ordered us to sing joyful songs.
They said, “Sing one of the songs of Zion to us!”

4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord
while we are in another land?

5 Jerusalem, if I forget you,
may my right hand never be able to play the harp again.

6 If I don’t remember you,
may my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth so I can’t sing.
May it happen if I don’t consider Jerusalem
to be my greatest joy.

7 Lord, remember what the people of Edom did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
“Tear it down!” they cried.
“Tear it down to the ground!”

8 People of Babylon, you are sentenced to be destroyed.
Happy are those who pay you back
for what you have done to us.

9 Happy are those who grab your babies
and smash them against the rocks.