Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless (A)the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To (B)eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Behold, (C)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(D)The fruit of the womb is a (E)reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
(F)Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
(G)They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

128 Blessed (H)is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.

(I)When you eat the [a]labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be (J)well with you.
Your wife shall be (K)like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your (L)children (M)like olive plants
All around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.

(N)The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
Yes, may you (O)see your children’s children.

(P)Peace be upon Israel!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 128:2 Fruit of the labor

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds(A) the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches(B) over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food(C) to eat—
    for he grants sleep(D) to[a] those he loves.(E)

Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward(F) from him.
Like arrows(G) in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.(H)
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents(I) in court.(J)

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord,(K)
    who walk in obedience to him.(L)
You will eat the fruit of your labor;(M)
    blessings and prosperity(N) will be yours.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine(O)
    within your house;
your children(P) will be like olive shoots(Q)
    around your table.
Yes, this will be the blessing(R)
    for the man who fears the Lord.(S)

May the Lord bless you from Zion;(T)
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem(U)
    all the days of your life.
May you live to see your children’s children—(V)
    peace be on Israel.(W)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet (A)it shall not be so among you; but (B)whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 (C)And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 (D)just as the (E)Son of Man did not come to be served, (F)but to serve, and (G)to give His life a ransom (H)for many.”

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25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,(A) 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man(B) did not come to be served, but to serve,(C) and to give his life as a ransom(D) for many.”

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