Psalm 127:2

Translations

Modern

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.

Traditional

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.

Literal

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.

Latin

Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum,

Original

Hebrew

English

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.

Notes

Psalms 127:1–2

Unless: These conditional statements emphasize that the Lord is the one who protects the city (compare Psalm 124:1–2).
Human effort achieves nothing unless the Lord blesses it (see Psalm 44:3).
you rise early and stay up late: This phrase describes people who work constantly and live with pressure and competition.
Those whom God loves can rest and sleep in peace (Psalm 3:5; 4:8).

Psalms 127:1–5

Blessings and protection come from God. Without his presence, success is not possible (Psalm 127:1–2). This is especially true for children, who are gifts from God (Psalm 127:3–5).

Psalms 120:1–134:3

These short and memorable songs were sung by pilgrims as they traveled to Jerusalem for the national festivals held three times each year (Deuteronomy 16:16). The title of these psalms includes a Hebrew word that can mean “steps” or “stairs.” Some scholars understand it to mean “going up to Jerusalem.” These psalms, often called the Songs of Ascents, lead the listener on a journey to Jerusalem to praise God for his goodness to Israel through history.

Theme notes and profiles

Solomon Children and Parents Laziness and Hard Work Solomon’s Wisdom Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.
Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Job 11:18
You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
Psalm 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
Jeremiah 31:26
At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.
Ecclesiastes 2:20–23
So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
Ezekiel 34:25
I will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.
Proverbs 31:15–18
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
Psalm 39:5–6
You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah
Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
Ecclesiastes 6:7
All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Degrees, Song of Hallel Music Psalms, Book of Sleep Solomon (Person) Song of Ascents Song of Ascents, Song of Degrees Zion

Topics

Balancing Work and Family Blessing: Temporal, from God Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Busyness Care: Worldly Employment God: Providence of God: Providence of, Overruling Interpositions of The Nightmares Sleep: from God The Providence of God: Man's Efforts are Vain Without Toil Vanity: Worldly Anxiety Vanity: Worldy Anxiety Is Works: Insufficiency of, for Salvation

Psalm 127:2

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