Psalms 127:1
A Song of Ascents; of Solomon. 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.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
In The King James Version
In Context
Cross References
Joshua 2:2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying: 'Behold, there came men in hither to-night of the children of Israel to search out the land.'
1 Chronicles 22:10He shall build a house for My name; and he shall be to Me for a son, and I will be to him for a father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
1 Chronicles 28:20And David said to Solomon his son: 'Be strong and of good courage, and do it; fear not, nor be dismayed; for the LORD God, even my God, is with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD be finished.
Psalms 33:16A king is not saved by the multitude of a host; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
Psalms 78:69And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He hath founded for ever.
Psalms 121:1A Song of Ascents. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?
Matthew Henry on Psalms 127:1
This is a family-psalm, as divers before were state-poems and church-poems. It is entitled (as we read it) "for Solomon," dedicated to him by his father. He having a house to build, a city to keep, and seed to raise up to his father, David directs him to look up to God, and to depend upon his providence, without which all his wisdom, care, and industry, would not serve. Some take it to have been penned by Solomon himself, and it may as well be read, "a song of Solomon," who wrote a great many; and they compare it… Read the whole commentary →