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.
Psalms 127:1-5.-Except God gives the blessing, man's works cannot have a prosperous issue. The building of the house and the keeping of the city can only be ensured through the Lord (Psalms 127:1-2); so children are a blessing from him (Psalms 127:3-5).
The title "for" or 'of Solomon,' attributing the authorship to that wise monarch, accords with internal evidence. It has no trace of the sadness which pervades the songs of degrees without titles. The individual comes here into prominence, whereas those songs speak more of the nation and, Church in general. Calvin remarks, The theme suits Solomon, who chiefly occupied the domestic civic territory. The main thought corresponds with Solomon's proverb, Proverbs 10:22; Psalms 127:2 accords with Solomon's experience as 'beloved of the Lord,' Jedidiah (2 Samuel 12:25). Riches, honour, long life, and wisdom were promised him in 'sleep,' without toil on his part (1 Kings 3:5-13; 1 Kings 4:20; 1 Kings 4:25). Compare the antitypical reign of the Prince of Peace, Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10; Zechariah 9:10; Psalms 72:3,
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it - literally, 'its builders labour in vain in it.' The juxtaposition of the house and the city in this verse shows that literal building of a house is meant. Perhaps Solomon was at the time engaged in building his own house, as also the house of God, (1 Kings 6:1-38; 1 Kings 7:1-51.)
Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh (but) in vain. From the building of the house, the Psalmist passes to the security of its occupants, and of the whole city which consists of houses and their dwellers. Night watches (cf. Psalms 130:6; Psalms 102:7; Prov. 7:34) patrol the well-ordered city, for the sake of securing it against enemies, robbers, disturbances, and fires, as well as announcing the hours (Isa. 20:11-12); but all these precautions must be accompanied with a looking up to God for a blessing on the means, or else there is no real blessing or safety.