---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 142 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/142/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 142. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/142/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 142. Psalm 127

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/142/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/142/#p-N

[¶0] A Song of Degrees. Of Solomon

[¶1] 1 Except Jehovah build the house, In vain they labor that build it; Except Jehovah keep the city, In vain watcheth the watchman.

[¶2] 2 Vain is it for you early to hasten to rise, To go late to rest, To eat the bread of sorrows: For thus will he give to his beloved one sleep.

[¶3] 3 Lo! the heritage of Jehovah are children: The reward which he bestows is the fruit of the womb.

[¶4] 4 As arrows in the hand of a strong man, So are the sons of youth.

[¶5] 5 Blessed is the man who shall have filled his quiver with them; For they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

### Psalm 128

[¶7] A Song of Degrees

[¶8] 1 Blessed is the man who feareth Jehovah, Who walketh in his ways.

[¶9] 2 The labor of thy hands when thou shalt eat thou shalt be blessed, And it shall be well with thee.

[¶10] 3 Thy wife shall be as a vine fruitful on the sides of thy house: Thy children as plants of olives around thy table.

[¶11] 4 Lo! surely, thus blessed shall be the man who feareth Jehovah.

[¶12] 5 Bless thee shall Jehovah from Zion; And thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

[¶13] 6 And thou shalt see thy children’s children, And peace upon Israel.

### Psalm 129

[¶15] A Song of Degrees

[¶16] 1 “Often have they afflicted me from my youths” Say now let Israel:

[¶17] 2 “Often have they afflicted me from my youth; “Yet they have not prevailed against me.

[¶18] 3 “Upon my back ploughed have the ploughers; “They have made long their furrows.

[¶19] 4 “Jehovah, who is righteous, hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.”

[¶20] 5 Confounded and turned backward shall be all who hate Zion.

[¶21] 6 They shall be as the grass of the housetops, Which before it cometh forth is withered:

[¶22] 7 With which the mower hath not filled his hand, Nor his bosom he who gathereth handfuls.

[¶23] 8 Nor have they said who pass by, “The blessing of Jehovah be upon you, “We bless you in the name of Jehovah.”