Psalms 127:1 
Context| NET © | 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 © | 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 © | <<A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.>> 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 © | <<A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.>> 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 © | 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 © | <A Song of the going up. Of Solomon.> 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 © | 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 © | <<A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.>> 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. |
| KJV | |
| NASB © | |
| HEBREW | |
| LXXM | |
| 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> |
| NET © | 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 |
1 sn 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. 2 sn 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. 3 sn 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. 4 sn The city symbolizes community security, which is the necessary framework for family security. |
