Psalm 127: Unless the LORD Builds the House

"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. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

House, city, family

"House" can mean a building, a household or a dynasty (2 Samuel 7). The psalm moves from building and guarding a city to raising a family: in every case human effort depends on God. Sons who "speak with the enemies in the gate" defend the family's interests in the town court.

"For Solomon"

The heading lishlomoh ("of/for Solomon") makes this the only Song of Ascents linked with Solomon, the builder of the temple. "He giveth his beloved (yedido) sleep" may play on Jedidiah, "beloved of the LORD," Solomon's other name (2 Samuel 12:25). Only Psalms 72 and 127 carry Solomon's name. The heading records the association; it does not establish authorship.

A wisdom portrait, not a rule

The praise of many children reflects an agrarian society in which sons meant labour, security and defence. It is a wisdom observation, not a judgement on those without children, whom Scripture also honours (Isaiah 56:3–5). The Latin "Nisi Dominus" was set by Monteverdi in the Vespers of 1610 and by Vivaldi and Handel. The heading "A Song of degrees" (Vulgate "Canticum graduum") marks it as one of the fifteen Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120–134; see Psalm 120 for the possible meanings).

In the versions and in worship

The library's Vulgate heading reads "Canticum graduum Salomonis." "Nisi Dominus" is sung at Christian Vespers on feasts of the Virgin Mary in the Latin rite, which is why it appears in Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers.