Psalms 127:1

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

A Song of degrees for Solomon. 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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לִשְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה אִם־יְהוָ֤ה ׀ לֹא־יִבְנֶ֬ה בַ֗יִת שָׁ֤וְא ׀ עָמְל֣וּ בוֹנָ֣יו בּ֑וֹ אִם־יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא־יִשְׁמָר־עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא ׀ שָׁקַ֬ד שׁוֹמֵֽר׃

Transliteration

Šîr the ma'ălôṯ to Šəlōmōh. If YHWH not yiḇneh bayiṯ, šāwə' 'āməlû ḇônāyw in it; if YHWH not yišmār-'îr, šāwə' šāqaḏ šômēr.

Grammar Details

• *Šîr*: construct state, masculine singular - song of
• *ma'ălôṯ*: definite with article, feminine plural - the ascents/steps/pilgrimages
• *Šəlōmōh*: proper name with preposition lamed - to/for/by Solomon
• *YHWH*: divine name, tetragrammaton
• *yiḇneh*: imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular, qal - will build
• *bayiṯ*: masculine singular - house
• *šāwə'*: masculine singular - vain/empty/worthless
• *'āməlû*: perfect, 3rd person plural, qal - they labor/toil
• *ḇônāyw*: masculine plural construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - its builders
• *yišmār*: imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular, qal - will guard/keep
• *'îr*: feminine singular - city
• *šāqaḏ*: perfect, 3rd person masculine singular, qal - watches/stays awake
• *šômēr*: participle, masculine singular, qal - watchman/guardian

Word Meanings

• *Šîr*: song/psalm
• *ma'ălôṯ*: ascents/steps/degrees/pilgrimages
• *Šəlōmōh*: Solomon/of Solomon/for Solomon/by Solomon
• *šāwə'*: in vain/worthless/to no purpose
• *'āməlû*: labor/toil/work hard
• *yišmār*: guard/keep/watch over/protect
• *šāqaḏ*: watches/stays awake/is vigilant

Referenced Verses

• Prov 16:9 : 9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
• 1 Cor 3:7 : 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
• 1 Cor 3:9-9 : 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
• Prov 21:30-31 : 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
• Ps 33:16-18 : 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
• Ps 122:1 : 1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
• Zech 2:4-5 : 4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: 5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
• Isa 62:6 : 6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
• Jer 51:12 : 12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
• Ps 126:1 : 1 A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
• Ps 123:1 : 1 A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
• Ps 124:1 : 1 A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
• Ps 121:1 : 1 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
• Ps 121:3-5 : 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
• Song 3:3 : 3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
• 1 Cor 15:14 : 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
• Eccl 9:11 : 11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
• Ps 78:69 : 69 And he built{H8799)} his sanctuary like high{H8802)} palaces, like the earth which he hath established{H8804)} for ever.
• Ps 120:1 : 1 A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
• 1 Chr 22:10-11 : 10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. 11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
• 1 Chr 28:10 : 10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
• 1 Chr 28:20 : 20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
• 1 Chr 29:19 : 19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
• Ps 72:1 : 1 A Psalm for Solomon. Give{H8798)} the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
• Ps 125:1 : 1 A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
• Gal 4:11 : 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
• Song 5:7 : 7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
• Isa 21:5-9 : 5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. 6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. 7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: 8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: 9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. 10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. 11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? 12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
• Isa 27:3 : 3 I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
• Isa 56:10 : 10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
• Ezek 33:2-9 : 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
• Jer 51:31 : 31 One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,