By water floods of Babylon

1 By water floods of Babylon,
There when we sat us down;
We mourned bitterly when we
Dear Sion thought upon.
2 Our harp in midst of her we did
Hang willow trees among.
3 For there they us who captive led
Requir'd of us a song.

Who laid us waste, ask'd mirth, sing us
A Sion's song do ye.
4 How in a land of strangers sing
Jehovah's song shall we?
5 O thou Jerusalem, if I
Of thee forgetful be:
Then let my right hand quite forget
Her own dexterity.

6 If I thee mind not, let my tongue
Not from my palate move:
If I set not Jerufalem
My chiefest joy above.
7 Remind, Lord, Edom's sons, who on
Jerusalem her day,
Raze it to her foundation,
Raze it again, said they.

8 Thou Babel's daughter must be waste,
That man shall happy be,
Who like as thou us served hast,
So recompenseth thee.
9 Yea happy he shall surely be,
Who strongly up doth take
Thy little ones, and on the stones
Doth them in pieces break.

Source: The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New-Testament: faithfully translated into English metre: for the use, edification, and comfort of the saints...especially in New-England (25th ed) #PCXXXVIIb