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Psalm 127
Expanded Bible

All Good Things Come from God

A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; C perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Of Solomon.

127 If the Lord doesn’t build the house,
    the builders are working ·for nothing [in vain; without purpose].
If the Lord doesn’t guard the city,
    the guards are watching ·for nothing [in vain; without purpose].
2 It is ·no use [in vain; without purpose] for you to get up early
    and stay up late,
·working for a living [L eating the bread of hardship/pain].
    The Lord ·gives sleep to those he loves [or provides for those he loves while they sleep].
3 Children are ·a gift [an inheritance] from the Lord;
    ·babies [L the fruit of the womb] are a reward.
4 Children ·who are born to a young man [L of one’s youth]
    are like arrows in the hand of a warrior [C they help in the challenges and conflicts of life].
5 ·Happy [Blessed] is the man
    who has his ·bag [quiver] full of ·arrows [L them].
They will not be ·defeated [L humiliated]
    when they ·fight [L speak to] their enemies at the city gate [C the central place of commerce and government].

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Psalm 127
New King James Version

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.
2 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.

3 Behold, (C)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(D)The fruit of the womb is a (E)reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 (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.

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Psalm 127
English Standard Version

Unless the Lord Builds the House

A Song of (A)Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord (B)watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious (C)toil;
    for he gives to his (D)beloved (E)sleep.

3 Behold, (F)children are a heritage from the Lord,
    (G)the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of (H)a warrior
    are the children[a] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies (I)in the gate.[b]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:4 Or sons
  2. Psalm 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate
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'詩 篇 127 ' not found for the version: Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version.
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Psalm 127
New International Version

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 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.
2 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)

3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward(F) from him.
4 Like arrows(G) in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
5 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)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for
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New King James Version (NKJV)

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