Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Psalms 127:1

NETBible	A song of ascents,² by Solomon. If the Lord does not build a house,³ then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city,⁴ then the watchman stands guard in vain.
NIV © biblegateway Psa 127:1	A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
NASB © biblegateway Psa 127:1	<> Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.
NLT © biblegateway Psa 127:1	<> Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
MSG © biblegateway Psa 127:1	If GOD doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If GOD doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.
BBE © SABDAweb Psa 127:1	If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.
NRSV © bibleoremus Psa 127:1	Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
NKJV © biblegateway Psa 127:1	<> Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
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KJV	<<A Song <07892> of degrees <04609> for Solomon <08010>.>> Except the LORD <03068> build <01129> (8799) the house <01004>_, they labour <05998> (8804) in vain <07723> that build <01129> (8802) it: except the LORD <03068> keep <08104> (8799) the city <05892>_, the watchman <08104> (8802) waketh <08245> (8804) [but] in vain <07723>_. {for...: or, of Solomon} {that...: Heb. that are builders of it in it}
NASB © biblegateway Psa 127:1	A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless <0518> <3808> the LORD <03068> builds <01129> the house <01004> , They labor <05998> in vain <07723> who build <01129> it; Unless <0518> <3808> the LORD <03068> guards <08104> the city <05892> , The watchman <08104> keeps <08245> awake <08245> in vain <07723> .
LXXM	(126:1) wdh <3592> N-NSF twn <3588> T-GPM anabaymwn <304> N-GPM tw <3588> T-DSM salwmwn {N-PRI} ean <1437> CONJ mh <3165> ADV kuriov <2962> N-NSM oikodomhsh <3618> V-AAS-3S oikon <3624> N-ASM eiv <1519> PREP mathn <3155> ADV ekopiasan <2872> V-AAI-3P oi <3588> T-NPM oikodomountev <3618> V-PAPNP auton <846> P-ASM ean <1437> CONJ mh <3165> ADV kuriov <2962> N-NSM fulaxh <5442> V-AAS-3S polin <4172> N-ASF eiv <1519> PREP mathn <3155> ADV hgrupnhsen <69> V-AAI-3S o <3588> T-NSM fulasswn <5442> V-PAPNS
NET [draft] ITL	A song <07892> of ascents <04609> , by Solomon <08010> . If <0518> the Lord <03068> does not <03808> build <01129> a house <01004> , then those who build <01129> it work <05998> in vain <07723> . If <0518> the Lord <03068> does not <03808> guard <08104> a city <05892> , then the watchman <08104> stands guard <08245> in vain <07723> .
HEBREW	rmws <08104> dqs <08245> aws <07723> rye <05892> rmsy <08104> al <03808> hwhy <03068> Ma <0518> wb <0> wynwb <01129> wlme <05998> aws <07723> tyb <01004> hnby <01129> al <03808> hwhy <03068> Ma <0518> hmlsl <08010> twlemh <04609> rys (127:1) <07892>

NETBible

A song of ascents,² by Solomon. If the Lord does not build a house,³ then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city,⁴ then the watchman stands guard in vain.

NET Notes

¹sn Psalm 127. In this wisdom psalm the psalmist teaches that one does not find security by one’s own efforts, for God alone gives stability and security.

²sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

³sn The expression build a house may have a double meaning here. It may refer on the surface level to a literal physical structure in which a family lives, but at a deeper, metaphorical level it refers to building, perpetuating, and maintaining a family line. See Deut 25:9; Ruth 4:11; 1 Sam 2:35; 2 Sam 7:27; 1 Kgs 11:38; 1 Chr 17:10, 25. Having a family line provided security in ancient Israel.

⁴sn The city symbolizes community security, which is the necessary framework for family security.