Parallel Verses

Darby Translation

{A Song of degrees. Of Solomon.} Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:

New American Standard Bible

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.

King James Version

{A Song of degrees for Solomon.} Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Holman Bible

A Solomonic song of ascents.Unless the Lord builds a house,
its builders labor over it in vain;
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.

International Standard Version

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly.

A Conservative Version

Unless LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless LORD guards the city, the watchman wake but in vain.

American Standard Version

Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.

Amplified

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.

Bible in Basic English

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.

Julia Smith Translation

Song of ascensions to Solomon. If Jehovah shall not build the house, they building it, in it labored in vain. If Jehovah shall not watch the city, he watching, watched in vain.

King James 2000

[A song of ascents. Of Solomon.] Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain that build it: unless the LORD keeps the city, the watchman wakes, but in vain.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Unless Yahweh builds a house, its builders labor at it in vain. Unless Yahweh guards a city, a guard watches in vain.

Modern King James verseion

A Song of degrees for Solomon. Unless Jehovah builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless Jehovah keeps the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

{A song of the stairs} Except the LORD build the house, their labour is but lost that build it. Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

NET Bible

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

New Heart English Bible

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

The Emphasized Bible

If, Yahweh, build not the house, in vain, have the builders of it toiled thereon, If, Yahweh, watch not the city, in vain, hath the watchman kept awake:

Webster

A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD shall build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD shall keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain.

World English Bible

Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

Youngs Literal Translation

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.

Devotionals

Devotionals about Psalm 127:1

References

American

Fausets

Hastings

Images Psalm 127:1

Prayers for Psalm 127:1

Context Readings

The Blessing Of The Lord

1 {A Song of degrees. Of Solomon.} Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain: 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.

Cross References

Psalm 33:16-18

The king is not saved by the multitude of his forces; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

Proverbs 16:9

The heart of man deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.

Proverbs 21:30-31

There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah.

1 Corinthians 3:7

So that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer; but God the giver of the increase.

1 Chronicles 28:10

Consider now, that Jehovah has chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous, and do it; fear not nor be dismayed: for Jehovah Elohim, my God, will be with thee; he will not leave thee, neither forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah is finished.

1 Chronicles 29:19

And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.

Psalm 78:69

And he built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he hath founded for ever.

Psalm 120:1

{A Song of degrees.} In my trouble I called unto Jehovah, and he answered me.

Psalm 121:1

{A Song of degrees.} I lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: whence shall my help come?

Psalm 121:3-5

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Psalm 122:1

{A Song of degrees. Of David.} I rejoiced when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of Jehovah.

Psalm 123:1

{A Song of degrees.} Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

Psalm 124:1

{A Song of degrees. Of David.} If it had not been Jehovah who was for us oh let Israel say --

Psalm 126:1

{A Song of degrees.} When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to the intelligent, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Jeremiah 51:12

Lift up a banner towards the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Jehovah hath both devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.

Zechariah 2:4-5

and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein;

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

For we are God's fellow-workmen; ye are God's husbandry, God's building.

1 Chronicles 22:10-11

He shall build a house unto my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

Psalm 72:1

{For Solomon.} O God, give the king thy judgments, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

Psalm 125:1

{A Song of degrees.} They that confide in Jehovah are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved; it abideth for ever.

Song of Songs 3:3

The watchmen that go about the city found me: Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?

Song of Songs 5:7

The watchmen that went about the city found me; They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

Isaiah 21:5-12

Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.

Isaiah 27:3

I Jehovah keep it, I will water it every moment; lest any harm it, I will keep it night and day.

Isaiah 56:10

His watchmen are all of them blind, they are without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs that cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber:

Isaiah 62:6

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, Jerusalem; all the day and all the night they shall never hold their peace: ye that put Jehovah in remembrance, keep not silence,

Jeremiah 51:31

Courier runneth to meet courier, and messenger to meet messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city is taken from end to end;

Ezekiel 33:2-9

Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them all, and set him for their watchman:

1 Corinthians 15:14

but if Christ is not raised, then, indeed, vain also is our preaching, and vain also your faith.

Galatians 4:11

I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain