Psalms
“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
Psalms 127:1 (KJV) speaks to surrender to God, God's sovereignty, and weariness — words set in Psalms, Israel's songbook of honest prayer. Read it unhurried, and let it become a prayer you return to.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalms 46:10“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
Proverbs 16:3“There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
Proverbs 19:21“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”
Psalms 115:3“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Psalms 37:5“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5
Common questions
What does Psalms 127:1 mean?
In the King James Version, Psalms 127:1 reads: "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." The verse speaks to surrender to God, God's sovereignty, and weariness. To read it well, take it in the flow of Psalms 127 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is Psalms 127:1 in the King James Version?
Yes. "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." is Psalms 127:1 in the King James Version (KJV), found in Psalms chapter 127.
What are some related Bible verses to Psalms 127:1?
Verses that sit beside Psalms 127:1 include Psalms 46:10, Proverbs 16:3, and Proverbs 19:21. Reading them alongside Psalms 127:1 deepens the theme of surrender to God.
How can I pray with Psalms 127:1?
Read Psalms 127:1 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.