Parallel Verses
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.
New American Standard Bible
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.
Unless the Lord
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord
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.
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
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.
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:
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.
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.
Themes
Alertness » Who watches in vain
Cities » Protected at night by watchmen
Dependence » Human weakness renders men dependent upon God
Protection » Of God, is » Indispensable
The Providence of God » Man's efforts are vain without
Watchmen » Were stationed » In the streets of cities
Topics
References
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Psalm 127:1
Images Psalm 127:1
Prayers for Psalm 127:1
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Blessing Of The Lord
1 Unless Yahweh builds a house, its builders labor at it in vain. Unless Yahweh guards a city, a guard watches in vain. 2 [It is] in vain for you who rise early [and] sit late, eating the bread of anxious toil, [when] thus he provides for his beloved in [his] sleep.
Phrases
Cross References
Psalm 33:16-18
The king [is] not saved by [the] greatness of an army. The warrior is not delivered by [the] greatness of strength.
Proverbs 16:9
The {mind} of a person will plan his ways, and Yahweh will direct his steps.
Proverbs 21:30-31
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.
1 Corinthians 3:7
So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who is causing [it] to grow.
1 Chronicles 28:10
Look now, for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it!"
1 Chronicles 28:20
Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do [this]! Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for Yahweh God, my God, [is] with you. He will not fail you and will not forsake you until all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh is finished.
1 Chronicles 29:19
Grant to Solomon my son a heart of peace to keep your commands, your statutes, and your regulations to do everything, and to build the citadel for which I have provided."
Psalm 78:69
And he built his sanctuary like [the] heights, like [the] earth that he established forever.
Psalm 120:1
In my distress I called to Yahweh, and he answered me.
Psalm 121:1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains; whence will my help come?
Psalm 121:3-5
He will not allow your foot to be moved; he who protects you will not slumber.
Psalm 122:1
I rejoiced in [those who] said to me, "Let us go to the house of Yahweh."
Psalm 123:1
I lift up my eyes to you, the one enthroned in the heavens.
Psalm 124:1
"If [it had] not [been] Yahweh who was on our side," do let Israel say,
Psalm 126:1
When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like dreamers.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
I looked again and saw under the sun that the race [does] not [belong] to the swift, the battle [does] not [belong] to the mighty, food [does] not [belong] to the wise, wealth [does] not [belong] to the intelligent, and success [does] not [belong] to the skillful, for time and chance befalls all of them.
Jeremiah 51:12
Against the walls of Babylon raise a banner; {post a strong watch}, post watchmen, prepare the ambushes, for Yahweh has both planned as well as performed what he has spoken concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
Zechariah 2:4-5
And he said to him, "Run, say to that young man, 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited {like villages without walls} because of the multitude of people and animals in its midst.
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
1 Chronicles 22:10-11
He himself will build a house for my name, and he himself will be to me a son, and I [will be] to him as a father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
Psalm 72:1
O God, give your judgments to [the] king, and your righteousness to [the] king's son.
Psalm 125:1
Those who trust in Yahweh [are] like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, [but] abides forever.
Song of Songs 3:3
The sentinels who go about in the city found me. "Have you seen the one whom my {heart} loves?"
Song of Songs 5:7
The sentinels making rounds in the city found me; they beat me, they wounded me; they took my cloak away from me-- {those sentinels on the walls}!
Isaiah 21:5-12
Set out the table in order! Spread out the rugs! Eat! drink! Rise up, commanders; smear [the] shield!
Isaiah 27:3
I, Yahweh, [am] her keeper; I water it {again and again}. Lest one afflict [harm] on it, I guard it night and day;
Isaiah 56:10
His watchmen [are] blind, none of them know. They [are] all dumb dogs; they are unable to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber.
Isaiah 62:6
I have appointed watchmen upon your walls, Jerusalem; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who profess Yahweh have no rest.
Jeremiah 51:31
[one] runner runs to meet [another] runner, and [one] messenger to meet [another] messenger, to tell the king of Babylon that his city has been captured, {from end to end}.
Ezekiel 33:2-9
"Son of man, speak to {your people}, and you must say to them, 'A land, if I bring over it a sword and the people of the land take a man, one from their number, and they appoint him for them as a watchman,
1 Corinthians 15:14
But if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching [is] in vain, and your faith [is] in vain.
Galatians 4:11
I am afraid [for] you, lest perhaps I have labored for you in vain!