G2/8 T g 1-. Human builders. Vain.
h -1. Human defenders of the city. Vain.
U 2-. Human labors. Vain.
U -2. Divine gifts.
T g 3. Divine provision of builders.
h 4,5. Divine provision of defenders.
(The central Psalm of the 15. Selected by Hezekiah to complete and perfect the arrangement.)
Psalm 127)
1 Except the LORD build a house,
They labor in vain that build it:
Except the LORD keep a city,
The watchman wakes but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows:
Thus He gives His beloved one (Heb. yedid. This was Solomon's name [Jedidiah] given by Yehovah [2 Sam. 12:25]. Solomon was given because David David was beloved of Yahaveh.) in sleep. (I. e. while they sleep: i.e. without their labor. So He gave to Solomon [1 Kings 3:5-15]; to Adam [Gen 2:21,22]; Abraham [Gen. 15:12,13]; Jacob [Gen. 28:10-15]; Samuel [1 Sam. 3:3,4,&c.])
3 Lo, sons are an heritage of the LORD: (The reference is to the fact that Hezekiah was rejoicing in Isaiah's message that he should have a son, made it a suitable Psalm for Hezekiah to select [2 Kings 20;12,18. Isa. 39:7]. Cp. Ps. 128. When his trouble came, he was childless. Hence he remembered Yahaveh's promise to David [132:11].)
And the fruit from the womb is His reward. (Hence he sings Yahaveh's praise.)
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
So are sons of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: (Hezekiah was that man)
They (i.e. the sons) shall not be ashamed,
But they shall meet with the enemies in the gate. (Whether for negotiation or for fighting.)