Psalm 127

The Blessing of the Lord

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds a house,
its builders labor over it in vain;(A)
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.(B)
In vain you get up early and stay up late,
working hard to have enough food—
yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.[a](C)

Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
offspring, a reward.(D)
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons born in one’s youth.(E)
Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.(F)
They will never be put to shame
when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.(G)

Footnotes

  1. 127:2 Or yes, he gives such things to his loved ones while they sleep

A Solomonic Song of Ascents

God’s Blessing in the Family

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    its builders labor uselessly.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
    its security forces keep watch uselessly.
It is useless to get up early
    and to stay up late,[a]
eating the food of exhausting labor—
    truly he gives sleep to those he loves.

Children[b] are a gift[c] from the Lord;
    a productive womb, the Lord’s[d] reward.
As arrows in the hand of a warrior,
    so also are children[e] born during one’s[f] youth.
How blessed[g] is the man whose quiver is full of them!
    He[h] will not be ashamed
        as they confront their enemies at the city gate.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:2 Lit. delay sitting
  2. Psalm 127:3 Lit. Sons
  3. Psalm 127:3 Lit. heritage
  4. Psalm 127:3 The Heb. lacks Lord’s
  5. Psalm 127:4 Lit. sons
  6. Psalm 127:4 The Heb. lacks born during one’s
  7. Psalm 127:5 Or happy
  8. Psalm 127:5 Lit. They