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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 127

Psalm 127 is read especially through the theme of pilgrimage, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

Pilgrimage
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 127

1A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. 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.

2It 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.

3Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

4As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 127

Psalm 127 is read especially through the theme of pilgrimage, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book V (Psalms 107–150). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Pilgrimage. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 127

Psalm 127 contains 5 verses and about 110 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. 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.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 5 closes: “Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include vain, unless, children, song, ascents, solomon. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 127

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 127:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes pilgrimage, with related themes of Pilgrimage. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

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