Psalms 127

Unless the Lord builds the house

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

⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.d ⁵Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

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Commentary

Psalm 127 is a wisdom psalm attributed to Solomon that confronts the futility of human effort apart from divine blessing. It opens with the famous image of building a house and watching a city — work that is meaningless unless the Lord is its foundation. The psalm then pivots to the

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Bible Dictionary· Psalms 127(3)

Gath Hand House

Bible Characters· Psalms 127(1)

Solomon

References· Psalms 127

a: v.1 — Proverbs 16:9, 1 Corinthians 3:7, Proverbs 21:30-31, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, Psalms 33:16-18, Psalms 121:3-5, Psalms 124:1, 1 Chronicles 28:10, Isaiah 62:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20
b: v.2 — Ecclesiastes 5:12, Psalms 4:8, Job 11:18, Psalms 3:5, Ecclesiastes 2:20-23, Jeremiah 31:26, Ezekiel 34:25, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Proverbs 31:15-18, Psalms 39:5-6
c: v.3 — Psalms 128:3-4, Deuteronomy 28:4, 1 Samuel 1:27, Genesis 48:4, Genesis 33:5, Isaiah 8:18, Genesis 1:28, 1 Samuel 1:19-20, Joshua 24:3-4, Genesis 24:60
d: v.4 — Proverbs 17:6, Proverbs 31:28, Jeremiah 50:9, Psalms 120:4

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