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, They who build it labor in vain; Unless the Lord guards a city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2It is futile for you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of painful labor; This is how He gives to His beloved sleep. 3Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is 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

• Unlessאִם'im · if: untilH518
• Unlessלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• buildsבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• a houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• it laborעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• inשָׁוְאshâv' shav · vanity: falseH7723
• guardsשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• a cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• staysשָׁקַדshâqad · to watchH8245

Cross-references for Psalms 127:1

• Psalms 120:1I cried to the Lord in my trouble, And He answered me.
• Psalms 121:1I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come?
• Psalms 122:1I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
• Psalms 123:1To You I have raised my eyes, You who are enthroned in the heavens!
• Psalms 124:1“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel say,
• Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but remains forever.
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, We were like those who dream.
• Psalms 72:1Give the king Your judgments, God, And Your righteousness to the king’s son.
• Psalms 33:16The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not rescued by great strength.
• Proverbs 16:9The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
• Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, And no plan against the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance overtake them all.
• 1 Corinthians 3:7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
• 1 Chronicles 22:10He shall build a house for My name, and he shall 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, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.”
• 1 Chronicles 29:19and give my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple 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