By the rivers of Babylon we sit down and weep when we remember Zion.On the poplars in her midst we hang our harps,for there our captors ask us to compose songs; those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying:“ Sing for us a song about Zion!”How can we sing a song to the LORD in a foreign land?
The new wine dries up, the vines shrivel up, all those who like to celebrate groan.The happy sound of the tambourines stops, the revelry of those who celebrate comes to a halt, the happy sound of the harp ceases.They no longer sing and drink wine; the beer tastes bitter to those who drink it.