Psalm 127:2 “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for…”

Psalm 127:2

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.

American Standard Version

It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

Geneva Bible 1599

It is in vaine for you to rise earely, and to lie downe late, and eate the bread of sorow: but he wil surely giue rest to his beloued.

Darby Translation

It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.

Young's Literal Translation

Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

Bible in Basic English

It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“vain”

Ecclesiastes 2:20–23 Ecclesiastes 1:14 Ecclesiastes 4:8 Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 Psalm 39:5 Psalm 39:6

Ecclesiastes 2:20–23 · BSB

So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 · BSB

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 · BSB

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—…

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 · BSB

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

Psalm 39:5 · BSB

You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

Psalm 39:6 · BSB

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

“rise up”

Proverbs 31:15–18

Proverbs 31:15–18 · BSB

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

“the bread”

Ecclesiastes 6:7 Genesis 3:17–19

Ecclesiastes 6:7 · BSB

All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

Genesis 3:17–19 · BSB

And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the day…

“for so he”

Ecclesiastes 5:12 Psalm 4:8 Psalm 3:5 Jeremiah 31:26 Ezekiel 34:25 Acts 12:5

Ecclesiastes 5:12 · BSB

The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

Psalm 4:8 · BSB

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 3:5 · BSB

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

Jeremiah 31:26 · BSB

At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.

Ezekiel 34:25 · BSB

I will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.

Acts 12:5 · BSB

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

Also

Job 11:18 Psalm 60:5

Job 11:18 · BSB

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

Psalm 60:5 · BSB

Respond and save us with Your right hand, that Your beloved may be delivered.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

1Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.

3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Read Psalm 127