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Psalm 127

The Lord builds the house

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain; children are the Lord's heritage and reward to those who trust in his provision.

5 verses. The 127th of 150 chapters in Psalms, in Poetry and Wisdom.

1A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

2It 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.

3Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

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

5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Matthew Henry on Psalm 127

1,640 words, in 1 passage.

  1. Verses 1–5Dependence on Providence; God the Giver of Prosperity.

World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.