de Monte, Philippe: Super flumina Babylonis


Super flumina Babylonis

Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, dum recordaremur Sion.
Illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos abduxerunt nos, verba cantionum.
Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?
In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.
For there, they that carried us away captive required of us a song.
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

Words: Psalm 137 vv. 1–4
Music: Philippe de Monte (1521–1603)