Corpus Psalterium · Vol. VI
Psalm CXXVII (127)
Didactic — Wisdom Instruction
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 127 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Song of Ascents. By Solomon.
Unless Yahweh builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.
שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לִשְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה אִם־יְהוָ֤ה ׀ לֹא־יִבְנֶ֬ה בַ֗יִת שָׁ֤וְא ׀ עָמְל֣וּ בוֹנָ֣יו בּ֑וֹ אִם־יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא־יִשְׁמָר־עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא ׀ שָׁקַ֬ד שׁוֹמֵֽר׃
It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
שָׁ֤וְא לָכֶ֨ם ׀ מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵי ק֡וּם מְאַֽחֲרֵי־שֶׁ֗בֶת אֹ֭כְלֵי לֶ֣חֶם הָעֲצָבִ֑ים כֵּ֤ן יִתֵּ֖ן לִֽידִיד֣וֹ שֵׁנָֽא׃
Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
הִנֵּ֤ה נַחֲלַ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה בָּנִ֑ים שָׂ֝כָ֗ר פְּרִ֣י הַבָּֽטֶן׃
As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.
כְּחִצִּ֥ים בְּיַד־גִּבּ֑וֹר כֵּ֝֗ן בְּנֵ֣י הַנְּעוּרִֽים׃
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
אַשְׁרֵ֤י הַגֶּ֗בֶר אֲשֶׁ֤ר מִלֵּ֥א אֶת־אַשְׁפָּת֗וֹ מֵ֫הֶ֥ם לֹֽא־יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ כִּֽי־יְדַבְּר֖וּ אֶת־אוֹיְבִ֣ים בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
A song for the climb
For Solomon
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
If the LORD
does not build the house
the builders sweat over it
for nothing
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
If the LORD
does not guard the city
the watchman stays awake
for nothing
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
For nothing
all of you
up before the dawn
sitting up late into the night
chewing the bread
of hard labor
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
He gives
to the one He loves
even while he sleeps
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
Look
sons are an inheritance
from the LORD
the fruit of the womb
a wage paid in full
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
Like arrows
in the hand of a warrior
so are the sons
of your youth
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
Happy the man
who has filled his quiver
with them
they will not be put to shame
when they speak with enemies
at the gate
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
(Hoo! ... Hah! ... Hoo! ... Hah!)
Hoo! ... Hah! ...
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.