Psalm 127:2 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.
Psalm 127:2 nkjv
It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:2 niv
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat? for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:2 esv
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:2 nlt
It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Psalm 127 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 23:4 | Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. | Futility of greedy striving |
| Ecc 2:22-23 | What has a man from all the toil... All his days are full of sorrow... | Toil without God brings sorrow |
| Ecc 4:6 | Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving | Rest preferable to anxious labor |
| Ecc 5:12 | Sweet is the sleep of a laborer... but the rich man’s abundance doesn't | Rest from labor is a blessing |
| Mat 6:25 | Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life... | Call to release anxiety |
| Mat 6:27 | And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? | Anxiety is fruitless |
| Mat 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God... and all these things will be added. | God's provision follows seeking Him |
| Mat 11:28-30 | Come to me, all who labor... and I will give you rest. My yoke is easy... | Christ offers true rest |
| Psa 4:8 | In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O L ORD, make me. | God grants peaceful rest |
| Psa 121:3-4 | He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber... | God does not sleep but protects |
| Psa 37:5 | Commit your way to the L ORD; trust in him, and he will act. | Committing actions to God |
| Psa 73:16 | But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome toil. | Toil of human understanding |
| Prov 10:22 | The blessing of the L ORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. | God's blessing brings joy, not sorrow |
| Prov 16:3 | Commit your work to the L ORD, and your plans will be established. | God establishes efforts |
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the L ORD | God's ultimate plan |
| Isa 26:3 | You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you... | Peace found in trusting God |
| Isa 30:15 | In quietness and in trust shall be your strength. | Strength in stillness and trust |
| Luke 10:41-42 | Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one. | Prioritizing spiritual over anxious busyness |
| Php 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication | Remedy for anxiety is prayer |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. | Giving burdens to God |
| Heb 4:10-11 | For whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his own works... | Entering God's spiritual rest |
| Gen 2:2 | And on the seventh day God finished his work... and he rested. | Divine pattern of work and rest |
| Deut 8:18 | You shall remember the L ORD your God, for it is he who gives you power. | God gives ability to gain wealth |
Psalm 127 verses
Psalm 127 2 Meaning
It declares that all human efforts and anxious toil—waking early, working late, eating hard-earned bread with anxiety—are fruitless and meaningless unless blessed by God. In contrast, the Lord grants rest, peace, and provision to those He loves, often providing for them effortlessly or while they are in repose.
Psalm 127 2 Context
Psalm 127 is part of the "Songs of Ascents," a collection (Psa 120-134) sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for annual festivals. This particular psalm bears the superscription "Of Solomon," placing its themes within the wisdom tradition of building, guarding, and raising a family under divine blessing. The first verse establishes God's essential role in human endeavors ("Unless the L ORD builds the house, those who build labor in vain; unless the L ORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain"). Verse 2 then extends this principle to individual daily life, critiquing anxious, self-reliant toil. It challenges the common cultural tendency of the ancient Near East, where prosperity was often associated with sheer effort, long hours, and relentless striving, contrasting this with the sovereign provision of God who blesses His beloved with rest and effortless provision.
Psalm 127 2 Word analysis
- It is vain: Hebrew shav (שָׁוְא). Meaning emptiness, futility, vanity, worthlessness. It highlights the ultimate emptiness and lack of lasting value in efforts undertaken without divine blessing or in a spirit of anxious self-reliance.
- for you to rise up early: Hebrew shakam (שָׁכַם). To rise early, busy oneself early in the morning. This speaks to beginning intense labor. The verse questions the spirit behind such early rising if driven by anxiety for provision.
- to sit up late: Hebrew achár (אָחַר) meaning "to delay" or "linger," here referring to extending work late into the night. Together with "rising early," it vividly paints a picture of extreme, exhausting, and incessant labor.
- to eat the bread of sorrows: Hebrew lechem ha'atzavim (לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים). Literally, "bread of pains," "bread of anxieties," or "bread gained by grievous toil." This food is consumed with a spirit of anxiety, distress, or exhaustion, reflective of the burdensome effort to obtain it.
- for so he gives: This indicates God's direct action and sovereign choice. The "so" implies that it is in contrast to the previous futility; God provides by different, gracious means.
- his beloved: Hebrew yedido (יְדִידוֹ). Meaning "His friend," "His darling," "His cherished one." This signifies those who have a special, intimate relationship with God, who trust and obey Him, implying a favored status based on relationship.
- sleep: Hebrew shena (שֵׁנָה). More than just literal unconsciousness, it symbolizes rest, peace, security, freedom from anxiety, and tranquil repose. It also implies God's provision given without agonizing toil, or even while one is at ease. This contrasts sharply with the "bread of sorrows."
- "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows": This phrase encapsulates the futility of human striving, driven by anxiety and self-reliance, when divine blessing is absent. It portrays a life consumed by restless toil that yields no true enjoyment or security.
- "for so he gives his beloved sleep": This concluding phrase offers a profound contrast and resolution. It highlights God's abundant grace and benevolent providence. While others anxiously strive, God grants His beloved a peaceful rest, signifying both literal rest and the tranquility that comes from trusting in His provision, rather than their own strenuous efforts. This "sleep" represents His gift of peace, security, and effortless provision.
Psalm 127 2 Bonus section
- Passive Providence: The verse suggests that God provides for His beloved in a way that doesn't demand their exhaustive, anxious effort. This highlights God's passive providence – He works while His children rest, a demonstration of His complete sovereignty.
- Wisdom Literature's Perspective: This verse aligns with the broader wisdom tradition (e.g., Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) which contrasts the wise (who trust God) with the foolish (who rely on self or works obsessively). It encourages finding the balance between diligence and trust, recognizing divine sovereignty over human outcome.
- Counter-cultural message: In a performance-driven world that often equates worth and success with ceaseless activity, this psalm serves as a powerful, counter-cultural reminder to re-evaluate our definition of success and where our trust is truly placed. True rest and blessings flow from God's hand, not solely from the sweat of our brow.
Psalm 127 2 Commentary
Psalm 127:2 beautifully articulates a fundamental spiritual truth: true peace, security, and provision come not from relentless human exertion alone, but as a gracious gift from a sovereign God. It's a critique not of diligent work itself, but of work fueled by anxiety, self-sufficiency, and a perceived need for exhaustive effort to secure what only God can provide. The "vain" striving describes an endless cycle of anxiety and weariness that fails to yield lasting satisfaction or security. In stark contrast, God "gives his beloved sleep," implying a state of blessed rest where one finds provision and protection without the burden of constant worry. This "sleep" is a metaphor for peace, calm, and effortless receiving, indicative of divine favor. It invites believers to cast their burdens upon God, trusting in His providential care, recognizing that frantic activity can never accomplish what humble dependence on Him can.