Font Size
Psalm 127-129
Easy-to-Read Version
Psalm 127-129
Easy-to-Read Version
A song from Solomon for going up to the Temple.
127 If it is not the Lord who builds a house,
the builders are wasting their time.
If it is not the Lord who watches over the city,
the guards are wasting their time.
2 It is a waste of time to get up early and stay up late,
trying to make a living.
The Lord provides for those he loves,
even while they are sleeping.
3 Children are a gift[a] from the Lord,
a reward from a mother’s womb.
4 A young man’s sons
are like the arrows in a soldier’s hand.
5 The man who fills his quiver with sons
will be very blessed.
He will never be defeated
when he opposes his enemy at the city gates.[b]
A song for going up to the Temple.
128 Great blessings belong to those who fear and respect the Lord
and live the way he wants.
2 You will get what you work for.
You will enjoy the Lord’s blessings, and all will go well for you.
3 At home, your wife will have many children, like a vine full of grapes.
The children around your table will be like an orchard full of olive trees.
4 Yes, the Lord will really bless those who respect him.
5 May the Lord bless you from Mount Zion.
May you enjoy the blessings of Jerusalem all your life.
6 And may you live to see your grandchildren.
Let Israel always enjoy peace!
A song for going up to the Temple.
129 All my life enemies have attacked me.
Say it again, Israel.
2 All my life enemies have attacked me,
but they have never defeated me.
3 They beat me until I had deep cuts.
My back looked like a freshly plowed field.
4 But the Lord does what is right;
he cut the ropes and set me free from those wicked people.
5 May those who hate Zion be put to shame.
May they be stopped and chased away.
6 They will be like grass on a flat roof
that dies before it has time to grow.
7 The one who goes to harvest it
will not find enough to cut and stack.
8 May no one walking by those wicked people ever say,
“May the Lord bless you!
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 127:3 gift Literally, “inheritance.” This usually means the land God gave to each family in Israel.
- Psalm 127:5 city gates This can refer to either a battle to protect the city or to a court case held in this public place.
Psalm 127-129
New International Version
Psalm 127-129
New International Version
Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds(A) the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches(B) over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food(C) to eat—
for he grants sleep(D) to[a] those he loves.(E)
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward(F) from him.
4 Like arrows(G) in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.(H)
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents(I) in court.(J)
Psalm 128
A song of ascents.
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,(K)
who walk in obedience to him.(L)
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;(M)
blessings and prosperity(N) will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine(O)
within your house;
your children(P) will be like olive shoots(Q)
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing(R)
for the man who fears the Lord.(S)
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;(T)
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem(U)
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—(V)
peace be on Israel.(W)
Psalm 129
A song of ascents.
1 “They have greatly oppressed(X) me from my youth,”(Y)
let Israel say;(Z)
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory(AA) over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;(AB)
he has cut me free(AC) from the cords of the wicked.”(AD)
5 May all who hate Zion(AE)
be turned back in shame.(AF)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,(AG)
which withers(AH) before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(AI)
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you(AJ) in the name of the Lord.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.