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 a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain. 2In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food — yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves. 3Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Except the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• they labourעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• in vainשָׁוְאshâv' shav · vanity: vainH7723
• keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• wakethשָׁקַדshâqad · to watchH8245

Cross-references for Psalms 127:1

• Psalms 120:1In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
• Psalms 121:1I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?
• Psalms 122:1I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
• Psalms 123:1I lift my eyes to you, the one enthroned in heaven.
• Psalms 124:1If the Lord had not been on our side — let Israel say —
• Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
• Psalms 72:1God, give your justice to the king and your righteousness to the king’s son.
• Psalms 33:16A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength.
• Proverbs 16:9A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.
• Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them.
• 1 Corinthians 3:7So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
• 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. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
• 1 Chronicles 28:10Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
• 1 Chronicles 29:19Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep and to carry out all your commands, your decrees, and your statutes, and to build the building 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