Psalms 127:2
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.
Original Language Analysis
שָׁ֤וְא
It is vain
H7723
שָׁ֤וְא
It is vain
Strong's:
H7723
Word #:
1 of 13
evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, object
מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵֽי
early
H7925
מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵֽי
early
Strong's:
H7925
Word #:
3 of 13
literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning
ק֡וּם
for you to rise up
H6965
ק֡וּם
for you to rise up
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
4 of 13
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
מְאַֽחֲרֵי
late
H309
מְאַֽחֲרֵי
late
Strong's:
H309
Word #:
5 of 13
to loiter (i.e., be behind); by implication to procrastinate
שֶׁ֗בֶת
to sit up
H3427
שֶׁ֗בֶת
to sit up
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
6 of 13
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
לֶ֣חֶם
the bread
H3899
לֶ֣חֶם
the bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
8 of 13
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
הָעֲצָבִ֑ים
of sorrows
H6089
הָעֲצָבִ֑ים
of sorrows
Strong's:
H6089
Word #:
9 of 13
an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind)
כֵּ֤ן
H3651
כֵּ֤ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
10 of 13
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 5:12The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.Psalms 4:8I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.Job 11:18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.Psalms 3:5I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.Jeremiah 31:26Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.Ezekiel 34:25And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.Ecclesiastes 6:7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.Ecclesiastes 4:8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Historical Context
A Song of Ascents sung by pilgrims to Jerusalem. After verse 1's warning about building without God, verse 2 addresses anxious labor. In agrarian societies, farmers worked dawn to dusk, constantly anxious. This psalm taught God-dependence.
Questions for Reflection
- What areas involve anxious striving rather than diligent trust?
- How do you distinguish godly hard work from "bread of sorrows" mentality?
- What would receiving "sleep" as God's gift look like practically?
Analysis & Commentary
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows—Shav (vain, worthless). For so he giveth his beloved sleep (כֵּן יִתֵּן לִידִידוֹ שֵׁנָא, ken yitten li-ydido shena). Psalm 127 contrasts anxious striving with God-dependent rest. The issue isn't hard work but anxious toil driven by self-reliance. God gives his beloved sleep—not just physical rest but peace of trusting him. This echoes Jesus: "Take no thought for your life" (Matthew 6:25-32). Faith works hard but rests easy.