Psalms 127

General context

The psalm says that unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain, and unless the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes in vain. It tells its hearers that it is vain for them to rise early, sit up late and eat the bread of sorrows, for so he gives his beloved sleep. It then declares that children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Children of the youth are compared to arrows in the hand of a mighty man. The psalm ends by calling happy the man whose quiver is full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Cited passages: Psalms 127:1, Psalms 127:2, Psalms 127:3, Psalms 127:4, Psalms 127:5

Psalms 127 (KJV)

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Historical context

The source prints no heading for this psalm; verse 1 begins with "Except the Lord build the house", so no title, author or occasion is given and none is asserted. No speaker is identified by name or pronoun; the psalm addresses "you" in verse 2 and otherwise speaks in general statements. The house, the city and the watchman are not named or located, and the psalm does not say whether any particular building or city is in view. "His beloved" in verse 2 is not identified. The enemies in the gate are mentioned only as those the children will speak with, and the text does not say what the speaking is or what gate is meant. No Selah occurs.

Cited passages: Psalms 127:1, Psalms 127:2, Psalms 127:5

Literary context

The psalm falls into two parts that share almost no vocabulary beyond the Lord's name. Verses 1-2 turn on the word "vain", said three times: builders labour in vain, the watchman wakes in vain, and rising early and sitting late is vain. Each line pairs a human effort with the Lord's action that makes the difference, and the section ends with sleep given rather than earned. Verses 3-5 change subject to children, in three steps: a declaration that they are heritage and reward, a comparison to arrows in a warrior's hand, and a blessing on the man with a full quiver. The images move from house and city to womb, arrows and gate. The closing line looks forward to speech with enemies, so the second half, like the first, ends on a note of security. Sleep given to the beloved in verse 2 stands against the watchman who wakes for nothing in verse 1.

Cited passages: Psalms 127:1, Psalms 127:2, Psalms 127:3, Psalms 127:4, Psalms 127:5

Key moments

1. Building and watching in vain (Psalms 127:1). Unless the Lord builds the house and keeps the city, builders and watchman labour in vain.
2. Sleep given to the beloved (Psalms 127:2). Rising early and sitting late is called vain, for the Lord gives his beloved sleep.
3. Children as heritage (Psalms 127:3). Children are declared an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb his reward.
4. Arrows in a mighty hand (Psalms 127:4). Children of the youth are compared to arrows in the hand of a mighty man.
5. A full quiver at the gate (Psalms 127:5). The man with a full quiver is called happy and his children will speak with enemies in the gate.

For reflection

The psalm says the builder, the watchman and the early riser all work in vain without the Lord, then says the Lord gives his beloved sleep. What does the poem count as work that is not vain, and where does the sleeper's security come from in its own words?

People in this chapter

• Solomon