Psalm 127 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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.

Cross references

  1. Psalm 127:1 : [Ps. 121:3–5]
  2. Psalm 127:2 : [Gen. 3:17, 19]
  3. Psalm 127:3 : [Gen. 33:5; Josh. 24:3, 4; Ps. 113:9]
  4. Psalm 127:3 : Deut. 7:13; 28:4; Is. 13:18
  5. Psalm 127:3 : [Ps. 113:9]
  6. Psalm 127:5 : Ps. 128:2, 3
  7. Psalm 127:5 : Job 5:4; Prov. 27:11