WHen as we sate all sad and desolate, By Babylon, vpon the Riuers side, Eas’d from the Taskes, which in our captiue state, We were enforeed daily to abide, Our Harps we had brought with vs to the field, Some solace to our heauy Soules to yeeld.
But soone we found, we fail’d of our account, For when our Mindes some freedome did obtaine, Straight-waies the memory of Sion Mount, Did cause afresh our wounds to bleed againe; So that with present griefs, and future feares, Our Eyes burst forth into a streame of Teares.
As for our Harps, since Sorrow strooke them dumbe, We hang’d them on the Willow Trees were neare; Yet did our cruell Masters to vs come, Asking of vs some Hebrew Songs to heare; Taunting vs rather in our Misery, Then much delighting in our Melody.
Alas (said we) who can once force or frame, His grieued and oppressed Heart to sing, The Prayses of Iehoua’s glorious Name, In banishment, vnder a forraine King? In Sion is his Seat, and dwelling place, Thence doth he shew the brightnesse of his face.
Hierusalem, where God his Throne hath set, Shall any Hower absent thee from my minde? Then let my right Hand quite her skill forget, Then let my voice, and words, no passage finde; Nay if I doe not thee prefer in all, That in the compasse of my thoughts can fall.
Remember thou, ô Lord, the cruell cry Of Edoms Children, which did ring and sound, Inciting the Chaldaeans Cruelty, Downe with it, downe with it, euen vnto the ground. In that good day, repay it vnto them, When thou shalt visit thy Hierusalem.
And thou, o Babylon, shalt haue thy turne By iust Reuenge, and happy shall he bee, That thy proud Walls and Towers shall wast and burne, And as thou did’st by vs, so doe by thee. Yea happy he, that takes thy childrens Bones, And dasheth them against the pauement Stones.