1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down.

Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows in that land,

we hung up our harps.

3 For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs.

Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy:

"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4 How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,

let my right hand forget its skill.

6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you,

if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem,

who said, "Raze it!

Raze it even to its foundation!"

8 Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,

he will be happy who repays you,

as you have done to us.

9 Happy shall he be,

who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.

1 I te taha o nga wai o Papurona, noho ana tatou i reira, ae, tangi ana tatou, ia tatou i mahara ai ki Hiona.

2 Whakairia ake e tatou a tatou hapa ki runga ki nga wirou i waenganui o reira.

3 No te mea i tono i reira te hunga nana tatou i herehere ki etahi waiata i a tatou, me te hunga nana tatou i tukino i tono mai he hari i a tatou, i mea mai, Waiatatia mai ki a matou tetahi o nga waiate o Hiona.

4 Me pehea matou ka waiata ai i te waiata a Ihowa i te whenua tauhou?

5 Ki te wareware ahau ki a koe, e Hiruharama, kia wareware toku ringa matau ki tana mahi.

6 Ki te kore ahau e mahara ki a koe, kia piri toku arero ki toku ngao; ki te kore ahau e whakanui i Hiruharama ki runga ake i taku mea i tino hari ai.

7 E Ihowa, maharatia nga tama a Eroma i te ra o Hiruharama; ta ratou meatanga, Whakahoroa, whakahoroa, a taea rawatia ano tona turanga.

8 E te tamahine o Papurona, meake nei whakangaromia, ka hari te tangata e utua ai koe mo tau i mea ai ki a matou.

9 Ka hari te tangata e hopu ana, e ta ana i au mea nohinohi ki runga ki te kohatu.