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Psalm 127
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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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Psalm 127
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 127

The Blessing of the Lord

A Solomonic song of ascents.

1 Unless the Lord builds a house,
its builders labor over it in vain;(A)
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.(B)
2 In vain you get up early and stay up late,
working hard to have enough food—
yes, He gives sleep to the one He loves.[a](C)

3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
children, a reward.(D)
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons born in one’s youth.(E)
5 Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.(F)
Such men will never be put to shame
when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.(G)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:2 Or yes, He gives such things to His loved ones while [they] sleep
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Psalm 127
King James Version

127 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

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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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