Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Alertness » Who watches in vain
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
Cities » Protected at night by watchmen
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me.
They struck me, they wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took my shawl from me.
The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Dumah (Edom):
Someone keeps calling to me from Seir (Edom),
“Watchman, what is left of the night [of Assyrian oppression]?
Watchman, what is left of the night? [How long until morning?]”
“Watchman, what is left of the night [of Assyrian oppression]?
Watchman, what is left of the night? [How long until morning?]”
Dependence » Human weakness renders men dependent upon God
O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
O Lord, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself;
It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].
John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God].
Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.
Labor » Who labors in vain
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
Prosperity » From God
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
Please accept my blessing (gift) which has been brought to you, for God has dealt graciously with me and I have everything [that I could possibly want].” So Jacob kept urging him and Esau accepted it.
Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you.
But his bow remained strong and steady and rested in the Strength that does not fail him, for the arms of his hands were made strong and active by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, By the God of your father, Who will help you, and by the Almighty, Who will bless you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings lying in the deep beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father [on you] are greater than the blessings of my forefathers [Abraham and Isaac on me] and are as lasting as the bounties of the eternal hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was the consecrated one and the one separated from his brethren and [the one who] is prince among them.
Protection » Of God, is » Indispensable
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
The Providence of God » Man's efforts are vain without
Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil -- "for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.
Watchmen » Of a city
“For there will be a day when the watchmen
On the hills of Ephraim cry out,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the Lord our God.’”
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
The lookout called down and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, he has good news to tell.” And he came nearer and nearer.
So the horseman went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger approached them, but he has not returned.”
Watchmen » Were stationed » In the streets of cities
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
Watchmen » Vigilance of, vain without God's protection
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
human Weakness » Renders men dependent upon God
O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
O Lord, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself;
It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].
John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God].
Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.