Psalm 127: Translation and Notes

Psalm 127
Listen from:
1 A song of the ascents: of Solomon. If Jehovah build not a house, in vain toil its builders in it; if Jehovah keep not a city, in vain watcheth a keeper.
2 [It is] in vain for you rising up early, sitting up late, eating bread of [the] sorrows: so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children (sons) [are] an inheritance from Jehovah, the womb’s fruit a reward.
4 As arrows in a mighty man’s hand, so [are] sons of (the) youth.
5 Blessed [is] the man who hath filled his quiver with them:
6 They shall not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate.
Notes on Psalm 127
“A song of the ascents: of Solomon.” All of blessing turns on Jehovah, on Jehovah-Jesus. When Israel welcomes and depends on Him, what fruitful showers! “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children” as in Psalm 45: so here. Solomon had an earnest and might well sing in the Spirit; yet his was not the rest of God, but vanity of vanities.