Psalms

Psalm 127:1–2

¹A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the LORD builds the house,

its builders labor in vain;

unless the LORD protects the city,

its watchmen stand guard in vain.

²In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for bread to eat —

for He gives sleep to His beloved.

Read all of Psalm 127

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Psalm 127:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
A song	שִׁ֥יר	šîr	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7892 song
of ascents	הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת	ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H4609 what comes up
Of Solomon	לִשְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה	liš·lō·mōh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8010 Solomon
Unless	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
the LORD	יְהוָ֤ה׀	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
builds	יִבְנֶ֬ה	yiḇ·neh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1129 build
the house	בַ֗יִת	ḇa·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
its builders	בוֹנָ֣יו	ḇō·w·nāw	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H1129 build
labor	עָמְל֣וּ	‘ā·mə·lū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H5998 labour, toil
in	בּ֑וֹ	bōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
vain	שָׁ֤וְא׀	šāw	Noun - masculine singular	H7723 emptiness, vanity
unless	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
the LORD	יְהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
protects	יִשְׁמָר־	yiš·mār-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
the city	עִ֝֗יר	‘îr	Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
its watchmen	שׁוֹמֵֽר׃	šō·w·mêr	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
stand guard	שָׁקַ֬ד	šā·qaḏ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H8245 watch, wake
in vain	שָׁ֤וְא׀	šāw	Noun - masculine singular	H7723 emptiness, vanity

Psalm 127:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
In vain	שָׁ֤וְא	šāw	Noun - masculine singular	H7723 emptiness, vanity
you	לָכֶ֨ם׀	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
rise	ק֡וּם	qūm	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
early	מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵי	maš·kî·mê	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct	H7925 start, rise, early
and stay up	שֶׁ֗בֶת	še·ḇeṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
late	מְאַֽחֲרֵי־	mə·’a·ḥă·rê-	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct	H309 to remain behind, delay, tarry
toiling	הָעֲצָבִ֑ים	hā·‘ă·ṣā·ḇîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6089 pain, hurt, toil
for bread	לֶ֣חֶם	le·ḥem	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3899 bread, food
to eat	אֹ֭כְלֵי	’ō·ḵə·lê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H398 eat
for	כֵּ֤ן	kên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
He gives	יִתֵּ֖ן	yit·tên	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
sleep	שֵׁנָֽא׃	šê·nā	Noun - feminine singular	H8142 sleep
to His beloved	לִֽידִיד֣וֹ	lî·ḏî·ḏōw	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3039 beloved

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Psalm 127:1 Proverbs 16:9 · 1 Corinthians 3:7 · Proverbs 21:30–31 · 1 Corinthians 3:9–15 · Psalm 33:16–18 · Psalm 121:3–5 · Psalm 124:1 · 1 Chronicles 28:10 · Isaiah 62:6 · 1 Chronicles 28:20 · Jeremiah 51:12 · 1 Corinthians 15:14

Psalm 127:2 Ecclesiastes 5:12 · Psalm 4:8 · Job 11:18 · Psalm 3:5 · Jeremiah 31:26 · Ecclesiastes 2:20–23 · Ezekiel 34:25 · Ecclesiastes 1:14 · Proverbs 31:15–18 · Psalm 39:5–6 · Ecclesiastes 6:7 · Ecclesiastes 4:8

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.