11 translations · Hebrew
Psalm 127:1
Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.
Psalm 127:1 in 11 translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV King James Version
- 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.
- BSB Berean Standard Bible
- Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.
- ASV 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.
- LSV Literal Standard Version
- A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. BY SOLOMON. If YHWH does not build the house, || Its builders have labored at it in vain, || If YHWH does not watch a city, || A watchman has awoken in vain.
- FBV Free Bible Version
- If the Lord doesn't build the house, the work of the builders is futile. If the Lord doesn't guard the city, the work of the guards is pointless.
- YLT Young’s 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.
- DBY Darby Translation
- Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:
- WBT Webster’s Bible
- 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.
- WEBC World English Bible (Catholic)
- Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.
- DRA Douay-Rheims 1899 · Psalm 126:1 in this edition
- Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.
The Hebrew words
Each word of the Hebrew text in order, with its transliteration, the Berean Standard Bible’s English for it, and its Strong’s number and short definition.
| Word | Transliteration | English (BSB) | Strong’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| שִׁ֥יר | šîr | A song | H7892 שִׁיר song |
| הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת | ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ | of ascents | H4609 מַעֲלָה thought |
| לִשְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה | liš·lō·mōh | Of Solomon | H8010 שְׁלֹמֹה Solomon |
| אִם־ | ’im- | Unless | H518 אִם if |
| יְהוָ֤ה׀ | Yah·weh | the LORD | H3068 יְהֹוָה LORD |
| לֹא־ | lō- | — | H3808 לֹא not |
| יִבְנֶ֬ה | yiḇ·neh | builds | H1129 בָּנָה to build |
| בַ֗יִת | ḇa·yiṯ | the house | H1004 בֵּית place |
| שָׁ֤וְא׀ | šāw | vain | H7723 שָׁוְא vanity: false |
| עָמְל֣וּ | ‘ā·mə·lū | labor | H5998 עָמַל to toil |
| בוֹנָ֣יו | ḇō·w·nāw | its builders | H1129 בָּנָה to build |
| בּ֑וֹ | bōw | in | H9003 ב in/on/with |
| אִם־ | ’im- | unless | H518 אִם if |
| יְהוָ֥ה | Yah·weh | the LORD | H3068 יְהֹוָה LORD |
| לֹֽא־ | lō- | — | H3808 לֹא not |
| יִשְׁמָר־ | yiš·mār- | protects | H8104 שָׁמַר to keep: obey |
| עִ֝֗יר | ‘îr | the city | H5892 עִיר excitement |
| שָׁ֤וְא׀ | šāw | in vain | H7723 שָׁוְא vanity: false |
| שָׁקַ֬ד | šā·qaḏ | stand guard | H8245 שָׁקַד to watch |
| שׁוֹמֵֽר׃ | šō·w·mêr | its watchmen | H8104 שָׁמַר to keep: obey |
Related verses
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
- 1 Corinthians 3:7
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
- Proverbs 21:30–31
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh. The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.
- 1 Corinthians 3:9–15
For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. …
- Psalm 33:16–18
There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power. Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness;
- Psalm 121:3–5
He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
- Psalm 124:1
If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,
- 1 Chronicles 28:10
Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
- Isaiah 62:6
I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on Yahweh, take no rest,
- 1 Chronicles 28:20
David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished.
Cross references from OpenBible.info, CC BY 4.0, most-voted first; text from the World English Bible.
In context
1 Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.
2 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.
3 Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
Read all of Psalm 127 in the World English Bible.
Edition and source notes
Each translation is shown as its source prints it, in its own verse numbering; where an edition numbers this verse differently, its own reference is given. The World English Bible, King James Version and Berean Standard Bible link to their chapter pages. Edition notes.
Literal Standard Version (2020) © Covenant Press and the Covenant Christian Coalition, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Imported from the checksum-pinned eBible.org USFX source; the extracted verse text is an adaptation shared under the same license. Free Bible Version (2018) © Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Imported from the checksum-pinned eBible.org USFX source; the extracted verse text is an adaptation shared under the same license.
The original words and their English come from the Berean Standard Bible translation tables (public domain); lemmas and short definitions from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0), with Greek definitions based on Abbott-Smith.
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