Psalm 127
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 127
God’s Blessings in the Home
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.(A)
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil,
for he gives sleep to his beloved.[a](B)
3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.(C)
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has
his quiver full of them.
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.(D)
Footnotes
- 127.2 Or for he provides for his beloved during sleep
Psalm 127
International Standard Version
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.
2 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.
3 Children[b] are a gift[c] from the Lord;
a productive womb, the Lord’s[d] reward.
4 As arrows in the hand of a warrior,
so also are children[e] born during one’s[f] youth.
5 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
- Psalm 127:2 Lit. delay sitting
- Psalm 127:3 Lit. Sons
- Psalm 127:3 Lit. heritage
- Psalm 127:3 The Heb. lacks Lord’s
- Psalm 127:4 Lit. sons
- Psalm 127:4 The Heb. lacks born during one’s
- Psalm 127:5 Or happy
- Psalm 127:5 Lit. They
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