Psalms 127:2
1 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.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.
- KJV
- It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
- WEB
- It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
- ASV
- It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; [For] so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- [It is] vain for you⁺, being early [in] rising, [and] delaying to sit, eating the bread of sorrows; for so He gives sleep to His beloved.
- ÅB
- Det er forgjeves at dere står tidlig opp, setter dere sent ned, spiser møysommelighets brød; det samme gir han sin venn i søvne.
- OTB
- Det er forgjeves for dere å stå opp tidlig,
Å sitte oppe sent,
Å spise brødet av møysommelige anstrengelser;
For Han gir sine elskede søvn. - B1930
- Det er forgjeves at I står tidlig op, setter eder sent ned, eter møisommelighets brød; det samme gir han sin venn i søvne.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Read in contextPsalms 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Read in contextJob 11:18
And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
Read in contextPsalms 3:5
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
Read in contextJeremiah 31:26
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:20–23
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Read in contextEzekiel 34:25
And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
Read in context