There we sat down, and wept, by streams

Verse 1

There we sat down, and wept, by streams, Which glide by Babel's walls; While Sion's melancholy themes, Our mournful mind recalls.

Verse 2

Our harps, which used their part to bear, When Sion's songs we sung, On willow trees, that flourished there, As useless now we hung.

Verse 3

Stern lords who did us captive bring, Insulted thus our wrongs; "Come, take your harps, and cheerful sing "Us, one of Sion's songs."

Verse 4

How can we, Lord, thy wongs repeat, To aliens, in strange land?

Verse 5

If thee, Jerusalem, I forget; Her skill may my right hand.

Verse 6

My tongue cleave to my roof; If I, Of thee, forgetful prove; Or ever entertain a joy, Jerusalem above.

Verse 7

Remember, Lord, how Edom's sons, In Salem's woeful day, Cried, "Raze it, raze the lowest stones, And with the ground it lay."

Verse 8

O daughter of proud Babylon! Whom we are doomed to see; Happy's the man, the wrongs thou'st done To us, returns on thee.

Verse 9

Blessed man! who, at the high command, Shall take thy little ones. As thou didst ours, in cruel hands, And dash against the stones.