Psalm 127 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

(A song by Solomon for worship.)

Only the Lord Can Bless a Home

1 Without the help of the Lord
it is useless to build a home
or to guard a city.
2 It is useless to get up early
and stay up late
in order to earn a living.
God takes care of his own,
even while they sleep.[a]

3 Children are a blessing
and a gift from the Lord.
4 Having a lot of children
to take care of you
in your old age
is like a warrior
with a lot of arrows.
5 The more you have,
the better off you will be,
because they will protect you
when your enemies
attack you in court.

Footnotes

  1. 127.2 God … sleep: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

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127 A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked. 2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one s...
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Psalm 127 - World English Bible (WEB)

A Song of Ascents. By Solomon.127 Unless Yahweh builds the house, they who build it labor in vain.Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.3 Behold, child...
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Psalm 127 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

God’s Blessings in the HomeA Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,eating the bread of anxious toil; for[a] ...
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Psalm 127 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

God’s Blessings in the HomeA Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,eating the bread of anxious toil; for[a] ...
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Psalm 127 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 127God’s Blessings in the HomeA Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,eating the bread of anxious toil; for he g...
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Psalm 127 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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Psalm 127 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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Psalm 127 - New Life Version (NLV)

God Is Good to His People127 Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders work for nothing. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the men who watch over it stay awake for nothing. 2 You rise up early, and go to bed late, and work hard for your food, all for nothing. For the Lord gives to His lov...
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Psalm 127 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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