Psalms 137:8
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served us.
American King James Version (AKJV)
O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served us.
American Standard Version (ASV)
O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us.
Webster's Revision
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 rewards you, as you have served us.
English Revised Version (ERV)
O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
Definitions for Psalms 137:8
Clarke's Psalms 137:8 Bible Commentary
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed - Or, O thou daughter of Babylon the destroyer, or, who art to be ruined. In being reduced under the empire of the Persians, Babylon was already greatly humbled and brought low from what it was in the days of Nebuchadnezzar; but it was afterwards so totally ruined that not a vestige of it remains. After its capture by Cyrus, A.M. 3468, it could never be considered a capital city; but it appeared to follow the fortunes of its various conquerors till it was, as a city, finally destroyed.
Rewardeth thee as thou hast served us - This was Cyrus, who was chosen of God to do this work, and is therefore called happy, as being God's agent in its destruction. Greater desolations were afterwards brought upon it by Darius Hystaspes, who took this city after it had revolted, and slaughtered the inhabitants, men and women, in a barbarous manner. Herod. lib. iii.
Barnes's Psalms 137:8 Bible Commentary
O daughter of Babylon - That is, Babylon itself; the city of Babylon. On the word "daughter" as thus used, see the notes at Isaiah 1:8.
Who art to be destroyed - Certainly to be destroyed; of whose destruction there are fixed and absolute prophecies. See the notes at Isaiah 13:19-22.
Happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us - Margin, that recompenseth unto thee thy deed which thou didst to us. Literally, "Happy shall he be who shall repay to thee the recompence which thou hast recompensed unto us." The idea is, who shall repay thee for thy treatment of us; or, as we should say in common language, "Who shall pay thee back?" That is, he will be esteemed a fortunate man who is made the instrument of inflicting deserved punishment on a city so guilty and so cruel. He will acquire fame and honor by doing it; his name will be made known abroad and perpetuated among people. In fact, the name of Cyrus, who conquered Babylon, is among the names of the most celebrated of conquerors; and the manner in which he took Babylon and overthrew the government and kingdom, has given him a most eminent place among successful princes and conquerors.
Wesley's Psalms 137:8 Bible Commentary
137:8 Happy — As being God's instrument to vindicate his honour, and execute his just judgments.
