Psalm 127
BSB
Children Are a Heritage from the LORD
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain;
unless the LORD protects the city,
its watchmen stand guard in vain.
2In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for bread to eat—
for He gives sleep to His beloved.
3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD,
and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
so are children born in one’s youth.
5Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
He will not be put to shame
when he confronts the enemies at the gate.
Introduction
Psalms 127
This is a family-psalm, as divers before were state-poems and church-poems. It is entitled (as we read it) "for Solomon," dedicated to him by his father. He having a house to build, a city to keep, and seed to raise up to his father, David directs him to look up to God, and to depend upon his providence, without which all his wisdom, care, and industry, would not serve. Some take it to have been penned by Solomon himself, and it may as well be read, "a song of Solomon," who wrote a great many; and they compare it with the Ecclesiastes, the scope of both being the same, to show the vanity of worldly care and how necessary it is that we keep in favour with God. On him we must depend, I. For wealth (Psa 127:1, Psa 127:2). II. For heirs to leave it to (Psa 127:3-5). In singing this psalm we must have our eye up unto God for success in all our undertakings and a blessing upon all our comforts and enjoyments, because every creature is that to us which he makes it to be and no more.
A song of degrees for Solomon.
Cross-references: Ps 127:1 · Ps 127:2 · Ps 127:3