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!
Ondjuriro yOvaisrael mouhuura
1 Pozonḓonḓu za Babilon opu twa kara pehi;
imbo opu twa ririra tjiyatu zemburuka Sion.
2 Komipanda mbya ri meṋe yazo,
okutwa turika ko oviharpe vyetu.
3 Imba mbe tu huurire va tjere
ngatu ve imburire eimburiro;
imba mbaa ve tu tatumisa va vanga
kutja tu ve yorokise, nave tja:
“Tu imburireye eimburiro ra Sion!”
4 Matu sora vi okuimbura eimburiro
ra Muhona mehi rozonganda?
5 Indu tji mbe ku zembi, Jerusalem,
eke randje rokunene ngari remane!
6 Eraka randje ngari kakatere koruramwe,
tji mbi he ku zemburukire,
na tji mbi he ripurire na ove, Jerusalem,
ngu u ri enyando randje enene tjinene.
7 Muhona, zemburuka imbi
Ovaedom mbi va tjita meyuva
ndi Jerusalem ndi tja huurwa,
tji va kara pokuravaera amave tja:
“Haṋeye, haṋeye otjihuro nga
komazikameno watjo!”
8 Babilon, ove, tjiri, mo haṋewa!
Omuṋingandu omundu ngu me ku
sutisire imbi ove mbi wa tjita ku eṱe.
9 Omuṋingandu ingwi ngu ma
hakana ounatje woye ne u tete koruuwa.
