A Prayer for Revenge
1 Beside the rivers of Babylon
we thought about Jerusalem,
and we sat down and cried.
2 We hung our small harps
on the willow trees.
3 Our enemies had brought us here
as their prisoners;
now they wanted us to sing
and entertain them.
They insulted us and shouted,
“Sing about Zion!”
4 Here in a foreign land,
how can we sing
about the Lord?
5 Jerusalem, if I forget you,
let my right hand go limp.
6 Let my tongue stick
to the roof of my mouth,
if I don't think about you
above all else.
7 Our Lord, punish the Edomites!
On the day Jerusalem fell,
they shouted,
“Completely destroy the city!
Tear down every building!”
8 Babylon, you are doomed!
I pray the Lord's blessings
on anyone who punishes you
for what you did to us.
9 May the Lord bless everyone
who beats your children
against the rocks!
Niikuyaa suukuwo
1 Babiloni baa jenjeŋolu la,
ǹ siita duuma jee le ka kumboo,
biriŋ ǹ hakiloo taata Siyoni* kaŋ.
2 Yirisuŋ biireeriŋolu mennu tarata jee,
ǹ ka ǹ na kontiŋolu deŋ wolu le santo.
3 M̀ mutalaalu ko ntolu ye suukuwo laa ì ye jee,
n toorandilaalu ko ŋà maadiyaa ke ì ye.
Ì ko, “Ali Siyoni suukuwo laa ǹ ye.”
4 Muna, ntolu si suukuwo laa noo Yaawe* ye
wandi banku kaŋ baŋ?
5 Hee Yerusalaamu, niŋ n ñinata i la,
Allamaa m bulubaa buloo ye faa.
6 Allamaa n neŋo ye kara n naaliŋo bala,
niŋ n hakiloo buka bula i la,
niŋ ite Yerusalaamu la kuwo seewoo le maŋ tambi n ye
seewoo bee la.
7 Hee Yaawe, i miira Edomunkoolu ye meŋ ke,
luŋo meŋ na ǹ jawoolu ye Yerusalaamu saatewo muta.
Ì tarata a fo kaŋ ne ko, “Ali a tumbuŋ de!
Ali a tumbuŋ de, fo a fondamaŋolu to!”
8 Ite Babiloni kasaaratoo diŋ,
seewoo be moo le ye
meŋ be i joo la kuwo la i ye meŋ ke ntolu la.
9 Seewoo be moo le ye
meŋ be i la dindiŋ mereŋolu taa la
a ye ì busa beroo bala.
