Revised Literal Translation
Psalms 127:1
1Except Yhwh build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except Yhwh keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.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
Except Yhwh build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except Yhwh keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3Lo, children are an heritage of Yhwh: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Read all of Psalms 127Psalms 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
Cross-references for Psalms 127:1
- Psalms 120:1In my distress I cried unto Yhwh, and he heard me.
- Psalms 121:1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
- Psalms 122:1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of Yhwh.
- Psalms 123:1Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
- Psalms 124:1If it had not been Yhwh who was on our side, now may Israel say;
- Psalms 125:1They that trust in Yhwh shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
- Psalms 126:1When Yhwh turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
- Psalms 72:1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
- Psalms 33:16There is no king saved by the multitude of an army: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
- Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart deviseth his way: But Yhwh directeth his steps.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yhwh.
- Ecclesiastes 9:11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
- 1 Corinthians 3:7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- 1 Chronicles 22:10He shall build an 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 for ever.
- 1 Chronicles 28:10Take heed now; for Yhwh hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
- 1 Chronicles 29:19And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the 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
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Psalms 127:1 that…: Heb. that are builders of it in it. ↩
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries