Parallel Verses
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.
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.
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.
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 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 sleep.
Phrases
Cross References
Psalm 33:16-18
The king is not saved by the multitude of a force. A mighty man is not delivered, By abundance of power.
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.
Proverbs 21:30-31
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel, over-against Jehovah.
1 Corinthians 3:7
so that neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who is watering, but He who is giving growth -- God;
1 Chronicles 28:10
See, now, for Jehovah hath fixed on thee to build a house for a sanctuary; be strong, and do.'
1 Chronicles 28:20
And David saith to Solomon his son, 'Be strong, and courageous, and do; do not fear nor be affrighted, for Jehovah God, my God, is with thee; He doth not fail thee, nor forsake thee, unto the completion of all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah.
1 Chronicles 29:19
and to Solomon my son give a perfect heart, to keep Thy commands, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do the whole, even to build the palace for which I have prepared.'
Psalm 78:69
And buildeth His sanctuary as a high place, Like the earth, He founded it to the age.
Psalm 120:1
A Song of the Ascents. Unto Jehovah in my distress I have called, And He answereth me.
Psalm 121:1
A Song of the Ascents. I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, Whence doth my help come?
Psalm 121:3-5
He suffereth not thy foot to be moved, Thy preserver slumbereth not.
Psalm 122:1
A Song of the Ascents, by David. I have rejoiced in those saying to me, 'To the house of Jehovah we go.'
Psalm 123:1
A Song of the Ascents. Unto Thee I have lifted up mine eyes, O dweller in the heavens.
Psalm 124:1
A Song of the Ascents, by David. Save for Jehovah -- who hath been for us, (Pray, let Israel say),
Psalm 126:1
A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah's turning back to the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
I have turned so as to see under the sun, that not to the swift is the race, nor to the mighty the battle, nor even to the wise bread, nor even to the intelligent wealth, nor even to the skilful grace, for time and chance happen with them all.
Jeremiah 51:12
Unto the walls of Babylon lift up an ensign, Strengthen the watch, Establish the watchers, prepare the ambush, For Jehovah hath both devised and done that which He spake, Concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
Zechariah 2:4-5
and he saith unto him, 'Run, speak unto this young man, saying: Unwalled villages inhabit doth Jerusalem, From the abundance of man and beast in her midst.
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
for of God we are fellow-workmen; God's tillage, God's building ye are.
1 Chronicles 22:10-11
he doth build a house to My name, and he is to Me for a son, and I am to him for a father, and I have established the throne of his kingdom over Israel unto the age.
Psalm 72:1
By Solomon. O God, Thy judgments to the king give, And Thy righteousness to the king's son.
Psalm 125:1
A Song of the Ascents. Those trusting in Jehovah are as Mount Zion, It is not moved -- to the age it abideth.
Song of Songs 3:3
The watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), 'Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'
Song of Songs 5:7
The watchmen who go round about the city, Found me, smote me, wounded me, Keepers of the walls lifted up my veil from off me.
Isaiah 21:5-12
Arrange the table, watch in the watch-tower, Eat, drink, rise, ye heads, anoint the shield,
Isaiah 27:3
I, Jehovah, am its keeper, every moment I water it, Lest any lay a charge against it, Night and day I keep it!
Isaiah 56:10
Blind are his watchmen -- all of them, They have not known, All of them are dumb dogs, they are not able to bark, Dozing, lying down, loving to slumber.
Isaiah 62:6
'On thy walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen, All the day, and all the night, Continually, they are not silent.' O ye remembrancers of Jehovah, Keep not silence for yourselves,
Jeremiah 51:31
Runner to meet runner doth run, And announcer to meet announcer, To announce to the king of Babylon, For, captured hath been his city -- at the extremity.
Ezekiel 33:2-9
Son of man, speak unto the sons of thy people, and thou hast said unto them: A land -- when I bring in against it a sword, And the people of the land have taken one man out of their borders, And made him to them for a watchman.
1 Corinthians 15:14
and if Christ hath not risen, then void is our preaching, and void also your faith,
Galatians 4:11
I am afraid of you, lest in vain I did labour toward you.