Psalms 127:1
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.
KJV
Canticum graduum. Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, qui ambulant in viis ejus.
Vulgate
ᾨδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Μακάριοι πάντες οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον, οἱ πορευόμενοι ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
LXX
Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.
ASV
שִׁ֥יר הַֽ/מַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לִ/שְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה אִם יְהוָ֤ה לֹא יִבְנֶ֬ה בַ֗יִת שָׁ֤וְא עָמְל֣וּ בוֹנָ֣י/ו בּ֑/וֹ אִם יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא יִשְׁמָר עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא שָׁקַ֬ד שׁוֹמֵֽר
Hebrew
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In the original Hebrew
13 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Themes
Historic Christian voices
6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
1. Trees which have been planted, and have had the advantage of all other care, and the hands and the labors of the cultivator, and yet yield no return for the labors, are pulled up by the roots, and handed over to the fire. So somewhat of this kind takes place also in the case of our Illumination. For when Christ has planted us, and we have enjoyed the watering of the Spirit, …
Chapter 12.—To Whose Person the Entreaty for the Promises is to Be Understood to Belong, When He Says in the Psalm, “Where are Thine Ancient Compassions, Lord?” Etc. But the rest of this psalm runs thus: “Where are Thine ancient compassions, Lord, which Thou swarest unto David in Thy truth? Remember, Lord, the reproach of Thy servants, which I have borne in my bosom of many nat…
Q. What does the fourth request mean? A. Give us today our daily bread means: Do take care of all our physical needs so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good, and that neither our work and worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing. And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and to put trust in you alone.
Cross-references
- 1Chr 22:10 — He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
- 1Chr 28:10 — Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
- 1Chr 28:20 — And 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, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until
- 1Chr 29:19 — And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
- 1Cor 3:6 — I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
- 1Cor 3:7 — So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- 1Cor 3:9 — For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
- 1Cor 15:14 — And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
- 1Thess 2:1 — For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
- 2Chr 17:5 — Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
- 2Sam 7:11 — And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
- Deut 8:18 — But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
- Eccl 9:11 — I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skil
- Exod 1:21 — And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
- Ezek 33:2 — Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
- Gal 4:11 — I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
- Gen 1:28 — And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over ever
- Gen 2:22 — And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
- Hab 2:13 — Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
- Isa 21:5 — Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
- Isa 27:3 — I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
- Isa 56:10 — His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
- Isa 62:6 — I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
- Jer 51:12 — Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of
- Jer 51:31 — One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,
- Jer 51:58 — Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they
- Josh 6:1 — Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
- Lev 26:6 — And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
- Lev 26:20 — And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
- Luke 5:5 — And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
- Mal 1:4 — Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border o
- Prov 16:9 — A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
- Prov 21:30 — There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
- Ps 33:16 — There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
- Ps 72:1 — Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
- Ps 72:1 — Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
- Ps 78:69 — And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
- Ps 120:1 — In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
- Ps 120:1 — In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
- Ps 121:1 — I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.