Psalms 127 (YLT)

Chapter Text

127:1 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.

127:2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

127:3 Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah <FI>are<Fi> sons, A reward <FI>is<Fi> the fruit of the womb.

127:4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So <FI>are<Fi> the sons of the young men.

127:5 O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "song", "ascents", "solomon", "jehovah", "doth", "build", "house", and "vain". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "song" and "ascents", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local YLT text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "song" and "ascents" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "song" and "ascents" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.