Psalm 127:2 Parallel Translations

It is useless to work hard for the food you eat by getting up early and going to bed late. The LORD gives food to those he loves while they sleep.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

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.

ASV:

It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; For'so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

BBE:

It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

DBY:

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

ERV:

It is vain for you that ye rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of toil: for so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

JPS:

It is vain for you that ye rise early, and sit up late, ye that eat the bread of toil; so He giveth unto His beloved in sleep.

WBS:

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

WEB:

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.

YLT:

Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

Psalm 127:2 Cross References

XREF:

Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.

Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Job 11:18 "Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.

Job 11:19 "You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor.

Psalm 60:5 That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and answer us!

Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

127:2 [It is] vain for {c} you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread {d} of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved {e} sleep.
(c) Who watch and ward and are also magistrates and rulers of the city.
(d) Either that which is gained by hard labour, or eaten with grief of mind.
(e) Not exempting them from labour, but making their labours comfortable and as it were a rest.

WES:

127:2 You - Builders, or watchmen. To sit - To use constant and unwearied diligence. So - By his blessing. Giveth - Freely, without that immoderate toiling, wherewith others pursue it.

MHC:

127:1-5 The value of the Divine blessing. - Let us always look to God's providence. In all the affairs and business of a family we must depend upon his blessing. 1. For raising a family. If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing; and the best-laid plans fail, unless he crowns them with success. 2. For the safety of a family or a city. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen, though they neither slumber nor sleep, wake but in vain; mischief may break out, which even early discoveries may not be able to prevent. 3. For enriching a family. Some are so eager upon the world, that they are continually full of care, which makes their comforts bitter, and their lives a burden. All this is to get money; but all in vain, except God prosper them: while those who love the Lord, using due diligence in their lawful callings, and casting all their care upon him, have needful success, without uneasiness or vexation. Our care must be to keep ourselves in the love of God; then we may be easy, whether we have little or much of this world. But we must use the proper means very diligently. Children are God's gifts, a heritage, and a reward; and are to be accounted blessings, and not burdens: he who sends mouths, will send meat, if we trust in him. They are a great support and defence to a family. Children who are young, may be directed aright to the mark, God's glory, and the service of their generation; but when they are gone into the world, they are arrows out of the hand, it is too late to direct them then. But these arrows in the hand too often prove arrows in the heart, a grief to godly parents. Yet, if trained according to God's word, they generally prove the best defence in declining years, remembering their obligations to their parents, and taking care of them in old age. All earthly comforts are uncertain, but the Lord will assuredly comfort and bless those who serve him; and those who seek the conversion of sinners, will find that their spiritual children are their joy and crown in the day of Jesus Christ.

CONC:

Anxious Beloved Bread Delay Early Eat Eating Gives Giveth Grants Griefs Labors Late Lie Loved Loves Ones Painful Rest Retire Rise Rising Sit Sitting Sleep Sorrow Sorrows Stay Toil Toiling Vain

Anxious Beloved Bread Delay Early Eat Eating Food Gives Grants Late Loves Ones Painful Rest Retire Rise Rising Sit Sitting Sleep Sorrows Toil Toiling Use Vain

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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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