Psalms, Chapter 127
This is Psalms, chapter 127, a sacred text in the Judaism tradition. You can read it here verse by verse for free, listen to it read aloud, and follow cross-references that connect its themes to other traditions.
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.Unless GOD builds the house,its builders labor in vain on it;unless GOD watches over the city,the guard keeps vigil in vain.
In vain do you rise earlyand stay up late,you who toil for the bread you eat;God’s loved ones are provided for while they sleep.aGod’s loved ones … they sleep Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Sons are the provisionbprovision Lit. “heritage.” of GOD;the fruit of the womb, divine reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warriorare sons born to a man in his youth.
Happy is the man who fills his quiver with them;they shall not be put to shamewhen they contend with the enemy in the gate.
✦ Connected Across Traditions
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Hadith (An-Nawawi 13)
“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
Mahabharata 5.1517
“One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself.”
Dhammapada 10:1
“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.”