The psalmist recalls the mourning of the Israelite captives by the rivers of Babylon, and their indignation over the demand of their oppressors to sing to them a canticle of Sion.
Parallel Latin-English Psalter: Psalms Index
Psalm 136: Prayer Audio in Latin
{136:1} Psalmus David, Ieremiæ. Super flumina Babylonis, illic sedimus et flevimus: cum recordaremur Sion:
{136:1} A Psalm of David: to Jeremiah. Above the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept, while we remembered Zion.
{136:2} In salicibus in medio eius, suspendimus organa nostra.
{136:2} By the willow trees, in their midst, we hung up our instruments.
{136:3} Quia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos duxerunt nos, verba cantionum: Et qui abduxerunt nos: Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.
{136:3} For, in that place, those who led us into captivity questioned us about the words of the songs. And those who carried us away said: “Sing us a hymn from the songs of Zion.”
{136:4} Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?
{136:4} How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?
{136:5} Si oblitus fuero tui Ierusalem, oblivioni detur dextera mea.
{136:5} If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.
{136:6} Adhæreat lingua mea faucibus meis, si non meminero tui: Si non proposuero Ierusalem, in principio lætitiæ meæ.
{136:6} May my tongue adhere to my jaws, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem first, as the beginning of my joy.
{136:7} Memor esto Domine filiorum Edom, in die Ierusalem: Qui dicunt: Exinanite, exinanite usque ad fundamentum in ea.
{136:7} O Lord, call to mind the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, who say: “Despoil it, despoil it, even to its foundation.”
{136:8} Filia Babylonis misera: beatus, qui retribuet tibi retributionem tuam, quam retribuisti nobis.
{136:8} O daughter of Babylon, have pity. Blessed is he who will repay you with your payment, which you have paid to us.
{136:9} Beatus, qui tenebit, et allidet parvulos tuos ad petram.
{136:9} Blessed is he who will take hold of your little ones and dash them against the rock.
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