Rashi on TanakhPsalms 127
Rashi
Read Psalms 127 in the BiblePsalms 127:2
It is futile for you The craftsmen, who rise early and stay late at their work and sustain themselves with toil and labor, with bread of toil, [i.e.,] of the toil of work.
so will the Lord give The Holy One, blessed be He, [will give] sustenance to him who banishes his sleep from his eyes in order to engage in the Torah.
to one who banishes sleep Heb. לידידו שנא. to one who banishes (מנדד) sleep from his eyes.
Psalms 127:3
Behold, the heritage of the Lord for that man [who banishes sleep from his eyes].
sons These are the disciples whom he sets up, who are to him like sons.
the reward is the fruit of the innards The reward is the fruit of the Torah that is in his heart as it is said (Prov. 22:18): “For it is pleasant that you guard them in your innards.”
Psalms 127:4
Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man with which to battle his enemies.
so are the sons of one’s youth The disciples that a man sets up in his youth.
Psalms 127:5
Praiseworthy is the man who has filled his quiver with those arrows. אשפה is the arrowcase, called cuyvre in Old French.
they will not be ashamed when they talk to the enemies in the gate Torah scholars who defeat one another in halachah and appear as enemies to one another (addendum).
Rashi on Tanakh — Rashi. Metsudah Publications / Judaica Press · CC BY
Psalms 127:1