Bible History
Bible History

Psalm 127 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

You are here: Home New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE) Psalm 127

Psalm 127[a]

The Need of God’s Blessing

1 A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

I

Unless the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain who build.
Unless the Lord guard the city,
in vain does the guard keep watch.
2 It is vain for you to rise early
and put off your rest at night,
To eat bread earned by hard toil—
all this God gives to his beloved in sleep.(A)

II

3 Certainly sons are a gift from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb, a reward.(B)
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them.
He will never be shamed
for he will destroy his foes at the gate.[b]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127 The Psalm puts together two proverbs (Ps 127:1–2, 3–5) on God establishing “houses” or families. The prosperity of human groups is not the work of human beings but the gift of God.
  2. 127:5 At the gate: the reference is not to enemies besieging the walls of a city but to adversaries in litigation. Law courts functioned in the open area near the main city gate. The more adult sons a man had, the more forceful he would appear in disputes, cf. Prv 31:23.

Cross references

  1. 127:2 : Eccl 2:24.
  2. 127:3 : Ps 115:14; 128:3; Dt 28:11; Prv 17:6.

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 127 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

127 A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked. 2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one s...
Read More

Psalm 127 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

127 The song of degrees of Solomon. No but the Lord build the house; they that built it have travailed in vain. No but the Lord keepeth the city; he waketh in vain that keepeth it./But if the Lord build the house; they that built it have travailed in vain. But (if) the Lord keepeth the city; he wake...
Read More

Psalm 127 - World English Bible (WEB)

A Song of Ascents. By Solomon.127 Unless Yahweh builds the house, they who build it labor in vain.Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.3 Behold, child...
Read More

Psalm 127 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 127A song of Solomon for those journeying to worship.Psalm 127 is attributed to Solomon, underscoring the futility of human endeavor apart from God. It is similar in tone and theme to other wisdom literature.1 Unless the Eternal builds the house, those who labor to raise it will have worked fo...
Read More

Psalm 127 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

He Gives Sleep to His ChildrenPsalm 1271 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.Unless Adonai builds the house, the builders labor in vain.Unless Adonai watches over the city, the watchman stands guard in vain.2 In vain you rise up early and stay up late, eating the bread of toil—for He provides for His belo...
Read More

Psalm 127 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

God’s Blessings in the HomeA Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord 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 toil; for[a] ...
Read More

Psalm 127 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

God’s Blessings in the HomeA Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord 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 toil; for[a] ...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 127God’s Blessings in the HomeA Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,eating the bread of anxious toil; for he g...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 127God’s Blessings in the HomeA 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...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 127A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night,anxio...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New Life Version (NLV)

God Is Good to His People127 Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders work for nothing. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the men who watch over it stay awake for nothing. 2 You rise up early, and go to bed late, and work hard for your food, all for nothing. For the Lord gives to His lov...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Laboring and Prospering with the LordA 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 gi...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 127A song of ascents. Of Solomon.1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.2 In vain you rise early and stay up late,toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves. 3 Children are a ...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 127A 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 Ch...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 127A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of Solomon.1 If the Lord doesn’t build a house, the work of the builders is useless.If the Lord doesn’t watch over a city, it’s useless for those on guard duty to stand watch over it.2 It’s useless for you to work from ear...
Read More

Psalm 127 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 127[a]A song of ascents;[b] by Solomon.127 If the Lord does not build a house,[c]then those who build it work in vain.If the Lord does not guard a city,[d]then the watchman stands guard in vain.2 It is vain for you to rise early, come home late,and work so hard for your food.[e]Yes,[f] he prov...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags