Psalms 127:1
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The proverbial wisdom of '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' subordinates every human enterprise to divine enabling, making the entire poem a meditation on the creatureliness of human striving. A psalm of Solomon (according to its superscription), it has been linked to the temple-building project, suggesting that even the most sacred human endeavor depends on divine initiative. The verse has been applied in Christian tradition to marriage (127:3-5 follows with the gift of children), family life, pastoral ministry, and every sphere of human activity as a warning against self-sufficient activism. The reformers used the verse to ground their rejection of 'works-righteousness' in the sphere of human achievement before God, extending the psalm's logic from practical spheres to soteriological ones.
Other Translations
Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.
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.
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.
Cross References
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that …
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving …
I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it …
The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that …
Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: …