ALL IS VAIN WITHOUT THE LORD
Key verse: 1
NIV
Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
Footnotes
- Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of (A)Ascents. Of Solomon.127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord (B)watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious (C)toil;
for he gives to his (D)beloved (E)sleep.
3 Behold, (F)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(G)the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of (H)a warrior
are the children[a] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies (I)in the gate.[b]
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Footnotes
- Psalm 127:4 Or sons
- Psalm 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate
127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord (B)watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious (C)toil;
for he gives to his (D)beloved (E)sleep.
3 Behold, (F)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(G)the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of (H)a warrior
are the children[a] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies (I)in the gate.[b]
Footnotes
- Psalm 127:4 Or sons
- Psalm 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
God’s blessing is more essential for our safety and blessing than any human strength or labor. We know that people work so hard to build up their lives in the world. It’s not bad to work hard, but if people don’t have the right foundation, their labor is in vain and they spend all their energy meaninglessly (1). They live in a continual state of anxiety, and what they build cannot stand the storms of judgment (Mt 7:24-27). In contrast, those who make Jesus the basis of their lives have a firm foundation to build on. We can do our part and trust God to do God’s part. We can sleep peacefully because the loving God is watching over us. (2)
Children are a prime example of a blessing that we do not create for ourselves (3-5). If God provides this blessing in our lives, we can only thank him and confess that we do not deserve such a great reward. Our part is to build our life and our family on the rock of Jesus.
Prayer: Father, thank you for all the blessings you gave me freely just because you loved me. Help me not have an anxious mind like worldly people, but build my life on the firm foundation of Jesus.
One Word: Build your house on the Lord
