Psalms 127:1

Psalms 127:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
• New International Version (NIV)Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

Context of Psalms 127:1

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain. 2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved. 3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Psalms 127:1 word by word

אִם־יְהוָ֤ה׀ לֹא־יִבְנֶ֬ה בַ֗יִת שָׁ֤וְא׀ עָמְל֣וּ בוֹנָ֣יו בּ֑וֹ אִם־יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא־יִשְׁמָר־עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא׀ שָׁקַ֬ד שׁוֹמֵֽר׃Read the interlinear

• Unlessאִם'im · if: untilH518
• Unlessלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• buildsבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• laborעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• vainשָׁוְאshâv' shav · vanity: vainH7723
• protectsשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• stand guardשָׁקַדshâqad · to watchH8245

Cross-references for Psalms 127:1

• Psalms 120:1In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.
• Psalms 121:1I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
• Psalms 122:1I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
• Psalms 123:1I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
• Psalms 124:1If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now declare—
• Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.
• Psalms 126:1When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
• Psalms 72:1Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
• Psalms 33:16No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
• Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
• Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
• 1 Corinthians 3:7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
• 1 Chronicles 22:10He is the one who will build a house for My Name. He will be My son, and I will be his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
• 1 Chronicles 28:10Consider now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”
• 1 Chronicles 29:19And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”

Commentaries on Psalms 127:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Except the Lord build the house - To build a house is taken in three different senses in the sacred writings. To build the temple of the Lord, which was called הבית habbeith, the house, by way of eminence. To build any ordinary house, or place of dwelling. To have a numerous offspring. In this sense it is supposed to be spoken concerning the Egyptian midwives; that because they feared the Lord, therefore he built them houses. See the note on Exodus 1:21…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Except the Lord build the house - Or rather, “a house.” The word “house” may refer either to an ordinary dwelling; to the temple, as a place of worship; or to a family, with reference to its success and prosperity, as the word house is often used now. The statement is universal, and is designed to indicate a universal dependence on God in human undertakings, though it is not improbable that there may have been an allusion, when the psalm was composed, to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The value of the Divine blessing. --Let us always look to God's providence. In all the affairs and business of a family we must depend upon his blessing. 1. For raising a family. If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing; and the best-laid plans fail, unless he crowns them with success. 2. For the safety of a family or a city. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen, though they neither slumber nor sleep, wake but in vain…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Unless: These conditional statements emphasize that the Lord is the one who protects the city (compare Psalm 124:1–2). Human effort achieves nothing unless the Lord blesses it (see Psalm 44:3). you rise early and stay up late: This phrase describes people who work constantly and live with pressure and competition. Those whom God loves can rest and sleep in peace (Psalm 3:5; 4:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-51-2. suggest the view of the theme given.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 127:1

• Blessing
• Prosperity
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Degrees, Song of
• Hallel
• Psalms
• Wake
• Crime; Crimes
• Degree
• Degrees, Songs of
• Dial of Ahaz
• Hallelujah
• Hezekiah (2)

Commentaries on Psalms 127

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings