Psalm 127

God’s gifts to human beings

Keep God in the loop

Road trip song of Solomon[1]

1If you build a house without the LORD’s help,
You’re building the house for nothing.
If you guard a city without the LORD’s help,
Your guard might as well take a nap.
2What a waste for you to get up early
And work into the night for food.
God gives that to the people he loves,
And he does it while they sleep.[2]

God’s naked gifts

3Look, kids are gifts from the LORD.
They are fruit of the flesh,[3] your divine reward.
4Children born to you when you’re young
Are like arrows in an archer’s hand.
5That archer is one happy fellow
When his quiver is full.
Enemies don’t stand a chance
When your kids have your back.

Footnotes

Intro Notes for Psalms

Intro Notes for Book 5 of 5 In Psalms

Intro Notes for Road Trip Songs

1127:1

The subtitle wasn’t part of the original psalm. And the possible byline “of Solomon,” isn’t necessarily a byline. Psalms 120-134 are called songs of ascent, possibly because Jewish pilgrims sang these songs while traveling up into the Judean hills to celebrate a Jewish holiday in Jerusalem.

2127:2

Crops grow day and night. So do livestock, which taste good barbecued.

3127:3

Literally “fruit of the womb.”