Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us. New Living Translation O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. English Standard Version O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Berean Standard Bible O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. King James Bible O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. New King James Version O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us! New American Standard Bible Daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, Blessed will be one who repays you With the retribution with which you have repaid us. NASB 1995 O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, How blessed will be the one who repays you With the recompense with which you have repaid us. NASB 1977 O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, How blessed will be the one who repays you With the recompense with which you have repaid us. Legacy Standard Bible O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, How blessed will be the one who repays you With the recompense with which you have recompensed us. Amplified Bible O daughter of Babylon, you devastator, How blessed will be the one Who repays you [with destruction] as you have repaid us. Christian Standard Bible Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us. Holman Christian Standard Bible Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us. American Standard Version O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us. Contemporary English Version Babylon, you are doomed! I pray the Lord's blessings on anyone who punishes you for what you did to us. English Revised Version O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. GOD'S WORD® Translation You destructive people of Babylon, blessed is the one who pays you back with the same treatment you gave us. Good News Translation Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy are those who pay you back for what you have done to us-- International Standard Version Daughter of Babylon! You devastator! How blessed will be the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. Majority Standard Bible O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. NET Bible O daughter Babylon, soon to be devastated! How blessed will be the one who repays you for what you dished out to us! New Heart English Bible Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be blessed who rewards you, as you have served us. Webster's Bible Translation O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. World English Bible Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionO daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, "" O the blessedness of him who repays to you your deed, "" That you have done to us. Young's Literal Translation O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us. Smith's Literal Translation O daughter of Babel laying waste; happy he recompensing to thee thy retribution thou didst to us. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleO daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Desolate Daughter Babylon, you shall be destroyed, blessed the one who pays you back what you have done us! New Revised Standard Version O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleO daughter of Babylon, taker of spoils, blessed shall he be who rewards you as you have served us. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Daughter of Babel, destroyer, Blessed is he who will pay you the reward which you have paid us! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed; Happy shall he be, that repayeth thee As thou hast served us. Brenton Septuagint Translation Wretched daughter of Babylon! blessed shall he be who shall reward thee as thou hast rewarded us. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context By the Rivers of Babylon…7Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!” 8O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. 9Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.… Cross References Revelation 18:6 Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup. Isaiah 13:19 And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. Jeremiah 50:15 Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her. Jeremiah 51:24 Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 51:56 For a destroyer is coming against her—against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken, for the LORD is a God of retribution; He will repay in full. Isaiah 47:1-3 “Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender or delicate. / Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams. / Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” Lamentations 4:21-22 So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself. / O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins. Habakkuk 2:8 Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers. Isaiah 14:4-6 you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended! / The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers. / It struck the peoples in anger with unceasing blows; it subdued the nations in rage with relentless persecution. Jeremiah 50:29 Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. Revelation 17:5 And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 14:8 Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.” Isaiah 21:9 Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!” Jeremiah 51:49 “Babylon must fall on account of the slain of Israel, just as the slain of all the earth have fallen because of Babylon. Isaiah 47:6 I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke. Treasury of Scripture O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served us. daughter Isaiah 47:1-5 Jeremiah 50:41 Jeremiah 52:33 who art Isaiah 13:1 Isaiah 14:4-24 Isaiah 21:1 destroyed. Psalm 149:6-9 Isaiah 13:3-5 Isaiah 44:28 rewardeth. Jeremiah 50:15-29 Revelation 18:6 Jump to Previous Babylon Blessed Daughter Destroyed Destruction Devastated Doomed Happiness Happy Laid Meted Recompense Rendereth Repaid Repayeth Repays Requites Rewardeth Rewards Served WasteJump to Next Babylon Blessed Daughter Destroyed Destruction Devastated Doomed Happiness Happy Laid Meted Recompense Rendereth Repaid Repayeth Repays Requites Rewardeth Rewards Served WastePsalm 137 1. The constancy of the Jews in captivity7. The prophet curses Edom and Babel O Daughter of Babylon This phrase personifies Babylon as a daughter, a common biblical metaphor that conveys both endearment and identity. In the Hebrew text, "Bat Babel" (בַּת־בָּבֶל) is used, which reflects the city's cultural and spiritual offspring. Babylon, historically, was a powerful empire known for its grandeur and idolatry, often seen as a symbol of opposition to God's people. The term "daughter" suggests a lineage of sin and rebellion against God, echoing the prophetic literature where cities are often depicted as women, either faithful or unfaithful. doomed to destruction blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us Persons / Places / Events 1. Daughter of BabylonThis term refers to the city of Babylon, personified as a woman. Babylon was a significant empire known for its conquest of Jerusalem and the subsequent Babylonian exile of the Jewish people. 2. Babylonian Exile A pivotal event in Jewish history where the Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, taking many Israelites captive to Babylon. 3. The Israelites The people of God who were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. This psalm reflects their longing for justice and the restoration of their homeland. 4. The Psalmist The author of Psalm 137, who expresses the deep sorrow and desire for retribution felt by the Israelites during their exile. 5. Divine Justice The concept of God’s righteous judgment, which is a central theme in this verse, as the psalmist calls for retribution against Babylon. Teaching Points Understanding Divine JusticeRecognize that God's justice is perfect and righteous, even when human emotions call for retribution. Trust in God's timing and methods for dealing with wrongs. The Danger of Bitterness While the desire for justice is natural, harboring bitterness can be spiritually damaging. Seek God's help to forgive and release personal vendettas. Hope in God's Promises The psalm reflects a deep hope in God's promises to restore and vindicate His people. Hold onto the hope that God will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing. Reflecting on God's Sovereignty Acknowledge God's sovereignty over nations and history. He raises and brings down empires according to His divine plan. Praying for Enemies Jesus teaches us to pray for our enemies. While the psalmist calls for retribution, Christians are called to love and pray for those who persecute them.(8) Daughter of Babylon--i.e., Babylon itself. (See Psalm 9:14, Note.) Who art to be destroyed.--Considerable doubt attaches to the meaning of the Hebrew word here. Our version is that of Theodotion. Aquila and Jerome have "wasted" (comp. Prayer Book version); Symmachus, "robber;" the LXX. and Vulg., "wretched." As pointed, the word is a passive participle, and must be rendered as by Aquila, "wasted" or "destroyed," but with the recollection that a Hebrew would thus speak proleptically of a doom foreseen though not accomplished. Delitzsch quotes an Arab saying: "Pursue the caught one "--i.e., sure to be caught. The "luxury of revenge" is well expressed in this beatitude, pronounced on him who can carry out to all its bitter end the lex talionis. Commentators have in turn tried to disguise and justify the expression of passion. Happily the Bible allows us to see men as they were without taking their rules of feeling and conduct as ours. "The psalm is beautiful as a poem--the Christian must seek his inspiration elsewhere." Verse 8. - O daughter of Babylon; i.e. O nation of the Babylonians (comp. Isaiah 47:1, 5; Psalm 9:14, etc.). Who art to be destroyed; literally, thou desolated one. The desolation of Babylon began with its capture by Cyrus, but was not completed for many centuries. In the Archaemenian period it was one of the chief cities of the empire. Even under the Parthians it was still a flourishing town. But from the time of Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 13:1-22) it was a doomed city, and in the eyes of a devout Jew already "desolate." Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us; i.e. happy shall he be that completes thy destruction, and the destruction of thy people. He will be the instrument for carrying out God's vengeance.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew O Daughterבַּת־ (baṯ-) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 1323: A daughter Babylon, בָּבֶ֗ל (bā·ḇel) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city doomed to destruction, הַשְּׁד֫וּדָ֥ה (haš·šə·ḏū·ḏāh) Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin blessed אַשְׁרֵ֥י (’aš·rê) Interjection Strong's 835: Happiness, interjection, how happy! is he who repays שֶׁיְשַׁלֶּם־ (šey·šal·lem-) Pronoun - relative | Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate you לָ֑ךְ (lāḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's Hebrew as גְּ֝מוּלֵ֗ךְ (gə·mū·lêḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 1576: Treatment, an act, service, requital you have done שֶׁגָּמַ֥לְתְּ (šeg·gā·malt) Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 1580: To deal fully or adequately with, deal out to, wean, ripen to us. לָֽנוּ׃ (lā·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's Hebrew Links Psalm 137:8 NIVPsalm 137:8 NLT Psalm 137:8 ESV Psalm 137:8 NASB Psalm 137:8 KJV Psalm 137:8 BibleApps.com Psalm 137:8 Biblia Paralela Psalm 137:8 Chinese Bible Psalm 137:8 French Bible Psalm 137:8 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 137:8 Daughter of Babylon doomed to destruction he (Psalm Ps Psa.) |