Nisi Dominus. Nothing can be done without God’s grace and blessing. A gradual canticle of Solomon.
Neither house nor citie can be built, or kept without Gods special prouidence and helpe, 3. those that trust in him shal prosper in their endeuours.
1Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.Cantico de' gradi. Di Salomone. Se il Signore non edifica egli la casa, invano si affaticano quegli, che la edificano. Se il Signore non sarà egli il custode della città, indarno veglia colui, che la custodisce.A gradual Canticle of Salomon. VNLESSE our Lord build the house, they haue laboured in vayne that build it. Vnlesse our Lord kepe the citie, he watcheth in vayne that kepeth it.Canticum graduum Salomonis. Nisi Dominus ædificaverit domum, / in vanum laboraverunt qui ædificant eam. / Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, / frustra vigilat qui custodit eam. 2It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved,E cosa inutile a voi il levarvi prima del giorno: levatevi dopo, che avrete riposato voi, che mangiate pan di dolore. Quando egli a' suoi diletti avrà dato il sonno,It is vaine for you to rise before light: rise ye after ye haue sitten, which eate the bread of sorow. When he shal giue sleepe to his beloued:Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: / surgite postquam sederitis, / qui manducatis panem doloris. / Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum, 3Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.ecco dal Signore l'eredità, i figliuoli, il lucro, i parti.behold the inheritance of our Lord are children: the reward, the fruite of the wombe.ecce hæreditas Domini, filii; / merces, fructus ventris. 4As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken.Quai saette nella mano d'uomo possente, così sono i figliuoli dei tribolati.As arrowes in the hand of the mightie: so are the children of them that are shaken.Sicut sagittæ in manu potentis, / ita filii excussorum. 5Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.Beato l'uomo, il di cui desiderio riguardo ad essi è adempiuto: ei non sarà svergognato quando avrà da parlare co' suoi nemici alla porta.Blessed is the man that hath filled his desire of them: he shal not be confounded when he shal speake to his enemies in the gate.Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: / non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.
126:1
Berthier
Of. Or "for" Solomon. This word is not in the Septuagint. (Berthier)
Muis
Some suppose that David put the psalm into his hands, to teach him that all depends on God. (Muis)
Worthington
He was to undertake various important works during his reign, (Haydock) particularly the temple, at the dedication of which this might be sung. (Worthington)
Calmet
The chiefs of the captives might also appropriate it to their use, (Berthier) when they were rebuilding the temple, 2 Esdras iv., and vi. (Calmet)
Berthier
It seems to refer to the times of the Messias. (Berthier)
House, or temple, and grant children, Exodus 1:21., and Genesis 30:2. Without God's assistance, all your endeavours to rebuild the temple and city will prove fruitless.
Calmet
It. Nehemias had ordered the citizens to watch the attempts of Sanaballat. (Calmet)
Haydock
But still depended more on Providence than on his own industry. (Haydock)
Berthier
David, Solomon, Esdras, etc., may have held this language. (Berthier)
Yet inactivity is not encouraged. We must labour, and still expect success from God alone. (St. Chrysostom) (Ephesians 2:16.)
Haydock
God must be the principal agent, (Worthington) and all the glory must be given to Him. (Haydock)
126:2
Challoner
Light. That is, your early rising, your labour and worldly solicitude, will be vain, that is, will avail you nothing, without the light, grace, and blessing of God. (Challoner)
Calmet
Nehemias divided the people into companies, to prevent their being too much fatigued. (Calmet)
Haydock
Without light it is impossible for man to work, John 9:4. (Haydock)
The labours of those who live by the robbery of the distressed, are vain. (Chaldean)
Haydock
Rise ye, is not in Hebrew. (Haydock)
Challoner
Sitten. Allow yourselves proper time for rest, after your labours and sorrows: for his beloved, whom he favours with his grace, shall sleep and rest under his wing, and yet abound with offspring, and all blessings. (Challoner)
Sorrow. St. Jerome, "of idols." This worship of God is odious.
Houbigant
Beloved. Solomon. (Houbigant)
St. Hilary
Yet some explain the Hebrew in the plural, as it is applicable to all the people. The Jews were under great alarms: but were encouraged to hope that God would protect them, and give them a numerous progeny; though, as the country was probably never so well peopled as under Solomon, this may rather refer to the elect, who after the sleep of death (Berthier) shall behold those whom Christ shall acknowledge for his children, (Haydock) and obtain an eternal reward. (St. Hilary)
Worthington
Whatever people may think they have done well, without God's grace, is all useless, and they must begin again; whereas those who are guided by it, perform all with as much ease as they would sleep, and yet merit a reward, which is promised in heaven to the true children who are born to God in the Catholic Church. (Worthington)
126:4
Challoner
As arrows, etc. The offspring which God shall give his servants, that have been shaken and tossed about, (as the children of Israel were in their captivity) shall be like arrows in the hand of the mighty, which shall prosper and do great execution. (Challoner)
Worthington
The patient sufferer will obtain a glorious recompense. (Worthington)
Children defend their parents.
St. Jerome
Of them, etc. Hebrew, "of youth." (St. Jerome)
Calmet
Such may be able to assist their aged parents, whereas those who are born in their old age must frequently be left orphans, (Haydock) and distressed. (Calmet)
Berthier
Yet the Hebrew may well admit the sense of the Vulgate, as children will be more animated to revenge the wrongs of those, from whom they have received their life. The Jews are here represented in the state of persecution. (Berthier)
126:5
Calmet
Desire. Who has as many children as he could wish. Hebrew, "his quiver." They are like arrows for his defence. (Calmet)
The Septuagint may have put the thing signified instead of the figure; or ashpatho may not be confined to the formal sense.
He shall. Hebrew, "they," father and son: yet the Chaldean, etc., retain he.
Worthington
The children of Christ, and of his martyrs, who have been persecuted, are declared to be very powerful protectors; (Berthier) while such as imitate them, (Haydock) shall easily answer the objections which shall be put to them at the day of judgment, and be happy. (Worthington)
Origen † AD 253
Gate. The enemies' envoys were not admitted into the city, 4 Kings 18:17. (Origen, etc.)
In law-suits, children will prove excellent assistants. (Calmet) (Ecclesiasticus 30:4.)
126:2
It is vain for you to rise before light.... That is, your early rising, your labour and worldly solicitude, will be vain, that is, will avail you nothing, without the light, grace, and blessing of God.
126:1
God not permitting Dauid to build the Temple, promised that his sonne should build it; and therfore besides other good admonitions, geuen to his sonne Salomon, he directeth this Psalme to him, to be songue vvith others in the dedication of the Temple. 3. Reg. 8. 2. Par. 5.
Vnlesse God be the principal Agent, no vvorke can prosper.
126:2
It is vaine to atempt anie thing vvithout Gods grace assisting:
they that so doing, & thincking they haue done something, rest
after their painful trauel, must rise againe & beginne anevv, because that vvhich they seme to haue done vvel, is nothing vvorth, nor shal haue revvard.
Contrarivvise vvhere God geuing grace, those that truly loue him, do good vvorkes,
vvith great ease, and dilight, as they take their sleepe,
126:3
they merite inheritance in heauen.
for their good vvorkes.
the revvard is promised to the true children of God, borne to him in the vvombe of the Catholique Church.
126:4
Moreouer as a strong archer striketh deepe with his arrovves; so they that patiently suffer much in this vvorld,
do multiplie good vvorkes.
126:5
Such shal be very happie.
& very easily ansvver al that can be obiected against them
in the day of Iudgement.
126:1
Origen † AD 254 Origen De Principiis 3.1.18
… “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.”
Origen † AD 254 Origen De Principiis 3.1-2.18
… “Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain:”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 2
… For, after telling us what ought to be done by us, namely, to be occupied in His law, to remember His Commandments, to keep His judgments, he assures us next that not even is this enough, except Himself stand by and succor. For, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it;” (
St Jerome † AD 420 Against the Pelagians 1.2
A. They are wrong, then, who strip us of the help of God in our separate actions. The Psalmist sings:
St Jerome † AD 420 Against the Pelagians 3.1
… the keeping of that is dependent on toil and industry, as well as earnestness, and above all on the mercy of God. It is ours to ask, to Him it belongs to bestow what we ask; ours to begin, His it is to finish; ours to offer what we can, His to fulfil what we cannot perform.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 17.12
… for “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Of Holy Virginity 41
… For “your eyes ever unto the Lord, forasmuch as He shall pluck out of the net your feet,” and, “Except the Lord shall have kept the city, in vain hath he watched who keepeth it.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 43.2
… And not without a purpose, brethren. For Samaritan means keeper. He knew that He was our keeper. For “He that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth;” and, “Except the Lord keep the city, they wake in vain who keep it.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 52.9
… Nevertheless, whatever engines of war he may erect against us, so long as he has no more a place in the heart that faith inhabits, he is cast out. But “except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127.1
… for that Solomon was the figure of this Peace maker, when he built the temple; that thou mayest not think he who built the house unto God was the true Solomon, Scripture showing unto thee another Solomon, thus commences this Psalm: “Except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127.2
… How then can we guard you? As men: as far as we are able, as far as we have received power. And because we guard you like men, and cannot guard you perfectly, shall ye therefore remain without a keeper? Far be it! For where is He of whom it is said, “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain?” (
John Cassian † AD 435 The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults 12.9
… “If a man abide in me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.” And “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.” And “Vain is it for you to rise up before light.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 13.10
… “No man can receive anything of himself, except it be given him from above.” We are commanded to keep our souls with all care, when the Prophet says: “Keep your souls,” but by the same spirit another Prophet proclaims: “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
126:2
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 8.22
… and the song became a reality, and attended on thy departure as a memorial of thee, who hast entered upon sweet peace after suffering, and received (over and above the rest which comes to all), that sleep which is due to the beloved,
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 34
In reply to a request from Marcella for information concerning two phrases in Ps. cxxvii. (“bread of sorrow,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127.3
… But he who chooseth to arrogate wisdom unto himself, is a fool. Let him be humble, that wisdom may come, and may enlighten him. But if, before wisdom cometh unto him, he imagine that he is wise; he riseth before light, and walketh in darkness. What doth he hear in this Psalm? “It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up before dawn” (
126:3
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 79.7
7. You have, therefore, Salvina, those to nurse who may well represent to you your absent husband: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127.4
… If therefore He rose not from the dead save when He had died, dost thou hope for exaltation save after this life? But that this Psalm might teach thee, in case thou shouldest ask, When shall I rise? perhaps before I have sat down? he addeth, “When He hath given His beloved sleep” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127.5
5. As if thou shouldest ask again, who are the beloved? “Lo, children, the reward of the fruit of the womb, are an heritage of the Lord” (
126:4
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 34
In reply to a request from Marcella for information concerning two phrases in Ps. cxxvii. (“bread of sorrow,” v. 2 , and “children of the shaken off,” A.V. “of the youth,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127.6
6. “Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one, even so are the children of those that are shot out” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 133.2
… they were found with their ears open, of whom it was said, “They shall see him, who were not told of him; they shall understand who heard not.” Yet, most beloved, if we reflect, the very blessing hath sprung from that wall of circumcision. For have all the Jews perished? and whence were the Apostles, the sons of the Prophets, the sons of the exiles?
126:5
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 118.6
… and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow.” Happy is he and to be held worthy of the highest bliss whom old age shall find a servant of Christ and whom the last day shall discover fighting for the Saviour’s cause. “He shall not be ashamed when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127.8
8. “Blessed is the man who hath filled his desire from them” (
126:1
… Unless the Lord watches over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil" (Ps. 126, 1-2). If action is therefore necessary, prayer is even more necessary; to which must be joined example, which opens the way and demonstrates as possible what one wishes to inculcate.
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.