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Psalm 127 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

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Psalm 127[a]

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1 A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

[b]If the Lord does not build the house,[c]
those who construct it labor in vain.
If the Lord does not guard the city,
those who keep watch over it do so in vain.
2 It is useless for you to rise earlier
and delay taking your rest at night,
toiling relentlessly for the bread you eat;
for while those he loves sleep,
he provides all of this for them.[d]
3 [e]Behold, children are a gift from the Lord,
a reward of the fruit of the womb.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are the children born in one’s youth.[f]
5 Blessed is the man
who has filled his quiver with them.
He will never be forced to retreat
when he is confronted by his enemies at the city gate.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:1 Without God, human undertakings are doomed to fail. It is God who is responsible for all of life’s blessings (see Deut 28:1-14). There is no need for us to become overly anxious. His providence takes care of us (see Mt 6:25-34; Jn 15:5). This is the constant teaching of the Old and New Testament. Nowadays, we know that natural laws follow a determined course that can be put to use in invention, technology, and the human sciences. But what do we expect to achieve? And if our endless affairs take away from us our time and taste for true joys, e.g., that of breaking bread together and of the fraternal home—what then?
    We can and should recite this beautiful psalm in its original sense to praise the Lord who fills us with earthly goods and gifts. We can also transpose it to the spiritual plane to express our radical impotence in this sphere and to proclaim that all success and supernatural fecundity suppose the concurrence of Christ Jesus, acting in the name of the Father, in the Holy Spirit (see Jn 15:4f).
  2. Psalm 127:1 The psalmist wishes to have the people become more God-centered in their everyday lives, for it is the Lord who provides shelter, security, and food.
  3. Psalm 127:1 The building of a house may refer to the construction of a house within the protective walls of the city or to the raising of a “family,” for in the Old Testament it is usual to speak of a family as a house in much the same way as we speak of a prominent family as a dynasty (see Gen 16:2; 30:3; Ex 1:21; Ru 4:11; 1 Sam 2:35; 2 Sam 7:27). Even the best watchmen (see 2 Sam 13:34; 18:24-27; Song 3:3; 5:7) are not enough to protect the city against attack unless the Lord is guarding it (see Pss 121:4; 132).
  4. Psalm 127:2 The higher way of life is to trust the Lord in one’s work. A good harvest results from God’s blessing, not endless toil (see Prov 10:22; Mt 6:25-34; 1 Pet 5:7).
  5. Psalm 127:3 It is the Lord, too, who as a sign of his favor gives sons who ensure the perpetuity of the family that is faithful to him and provide protection for the family members.
  6. Psalm 127:4 Children, especially sons, also provide a sense of security and protection for the family—especially if they are born early in the parents’ life (see Prov 17:6; Lam 3:13). As the arrows protect the warrior, so do sons guard the godly man.
  7. Psalm 127:5 A house full of children is a protection against loneliness and abandonment in society. They will speak on behalf of their aging parents, especially at the city gate, where court was held (see Ps 69:13; Deut 17:5; 21:19; 22:15, 24; Prov 31:23; Am 5:12).

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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...
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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...
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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...
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Psalm 127 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Psalm 127 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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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] ...
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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] ...
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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...
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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...
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Psalm 127 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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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...
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Psalm 127 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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Psalm 127 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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Psalm 127 - New International Version (NIV)

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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...
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Psalm 127 - New English Translation (NET)

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