Psalms 127:1

“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up. By Solomon.” Except the LORD build the house, The builders labor in vain; Except the LORD guard the city, The watchman waketh in vain.

Noyes Bible

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

2In vain ye rise up early, and go to rest late, And eat the bread of care! The same giveth he his beloved one in sleep.

Read all of Psalms 127

Cross References

Psalms 33:16A king is not saved by the number of his forces, Nor a hero by the greatness of his strength.

Psalms 78:69Where he built, like the heavens, his sanctuary; Like the earth, which he hath established for ever.

Psalms 121:1“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” I lift up mine eyes to the hills: Whence cometh my help?

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Psalms 127:1