Bible Commentaries

Verse 1

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.

(Title

&) A Song.

120:1; 121:1; 122:1; 123:1; 124:1; 125:1; 126:1; *titles

for Solomon

or, of Solomon.

72:1; *title

The Lord

33:16-18; Proverbs 16:9; 21:30,31; Ecclesiastes 9:11; 1 Corinthians 3:7

build

1 Chronicles 22:10,11; 28:10,20; 29:19; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15

they labour

1 Corinthians 15:14; Galatians 4:11

that build it

Heb. that are builders of it in it. except.

121:3-5; Isaiah 27:3; Zechariah 2:4,5

the watchman

Song of Solomon 3:3; 5:7; Isaiah 21:5-12; 56:10; 62:6; Jeremiah 51:12,31; Ezekiel 33:2-9

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:28 - General; Genesis 2:22 - made; Genesis 24:12 - I pray; Genesis 28:3 - God; Exodus 1:21 - made them; Leviticus 26:6 - ye shall; Leviticus 26:20 - your strength; Deuteronomy 8:18 - he that; Joshua 2:2 - told the king; Joshua 6:1 - because; 2 Samuel 7:11 - he will make; 1 Kings 2:24 - made me; 2 Kings 6:27 - whence; 2 Kings 7:10 - the porter; 2 Kings 19:26 - of small power; 1 Chronicles 17:10 - the Lord; 2 Chronicles 17:5 - the Lord; Nehemiah 7:3 - Let not the gates; Psalm 121:4 - he that; Isaiah 21:8 - I stand; Isaiah 37:27 - their inhabitants; Jeremiah 51:58 - the people; Habakkuk 2:13 - is it; Malachi 1:4 - They shall build; Luke 5:5 - we; Romans 11:25 - until; 1 Corinthians 3:6 - God; 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - in vain

Verse 2

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.

vain

39:5,6; Ecclesiastes 1:14; 2:1-11,20-23; 4:8

rise up

Proverbs 31:15-18

the bread

Genesis 3:17-19; Ecclesiastes 6:7

for so he

3:5; 4:8; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Jeremiah 31:26; Ezekiel 34:25; Acts 12:5,6

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:6 - ye shall; Deuteronomy 8:18 - he that; Deuteronomy 16:3 - the bread; 1 Kings 22:27 - bread of affliction; Proverbs 3:24 - and; Proverbs 31:18 - her candle; Ecclesiastes 2:22 - and of the; Ecclesiastes 2:23 - all; Ecclesiastes 5:17 - he eateth; Ecclesiastes 8:16 - there is that; Isaiah 30:20 - the bread; Isaiah 37:27 - their inhabitants; Habakkuk 2:13 - is it; Luke 5:5 - we

Verse 3

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

children

128:3,4; Genesis 1:28; 15:4,5; 24:60; 30:1,2; 33:5; 41:51,52; 48:4; Deuteronomy 28:4; Joshua 24:3,4; 1 Samuel 1:19,20,27; 2:20,21; 1 Chronicles 28:5; Isaiah 8:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:2 - a keeper; Genesis 5:4 - and he; Genesis 11:11 - begat sons; Genesis 15:2 - childless; Genesis 16:2 - the Lord; Genesis 28:3 - and make; Genesis 29:31 - he opened; Genesis 30:22 - opened; Genesis 48:9 - my sons; Exodus 1:21 - made them; Deuteronomy 7:14 - male or; Ruth 4:11 - the Lord; Ruth 4:13 - the Lord; 1 Chronicles 8:40 - many sons; 1 Chronicles 25:5 - God gave; Nehemiah 5:2 - our sons; Job 1:2 - seven sons; Job 5:25 - thy seed; Job 21:11 - General; Job 29:5 - my children; Job 42:13 - General; Proverbs 5:16 - dispersed; Proverbs 17:6 - Children's; Luke 1:13 - thy prayer; Hebrews 2:13 - which

Verse 4

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

arrows

Jeremiah 50:9

so are children

Proverbs 17:6; 31:28

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:11 - begat sons; Psalm 144:12 - as plants; Proverbs 27:11 - that I; Ecclesiastes 6:3 - a man

Verse 5

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.

Happy

Genesis 50:23; Job 1:2; 42:12-16

his quiver full of them

Heb. filled his quiver with them. they shall.

Job 5:4; Proverbs 27:11

speak

or, subdue.

18:47

or, destroy Reciprocal: Psalm 128:3 - round about; Psalm 144:12 - as plants; Ecclesiastes 6:3 - a man; Matthew 16:18 - and the