King James Version

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.

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Hebrew

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שָׁ֤וְאshavefalseשָׁוְאnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “false”, the ordinary formH7723evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain)false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.לָכֶ֨םlakhemtoלָכֶ֨םpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “to”toמַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵיmashkimeup, rise up) earlyשָׁכַםverb, hiphil, participle, construct — “up, rise up) early”, a verb used as a describing wordH7925literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning(arise, be up, get (oneself) up, rise up) early (betimes), morning.ק֡וּםqumriseקוּםverb, qal, infinitive construct — “rise”, the to-form of the verbH6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (u…מְאַֽחֲרֵיmeacharebe lateאָחַרverb, piel, participle, construct — “be late”, a verb used as a describing wordH309to loiter (i.e. be behind); by implication to procrastinatecontinue, defer, delay, hinder, be late (slack), stay (there), tarry (longer).שֶׁ֗בֶתshevetdwellיָשַׁבverb, qal, infinitive construct — “dwell”, the to-form of the verbH3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, r…אֹ֭כְלֵיokheleeatאָכַלverb, qal, participle, construct — “eat”, a verb used as a describing wordH398to eat (literally or figuratively)[idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.לֶ֣חֶםlechembreadלֶחֶםnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “bread”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3899food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)(shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.הָעֲצָבִ֑יםhaatsavimthe grievousעֶצֶבdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the grievous”, the ordinary formH6089an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind)grievous, idol, labor, sorrow.כֵּ֤ןkenas... asכֵּןparticle, demonstrative — “as... as”H3651properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)[phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (th…יִתֵּ֖ןyitengiveנָתַןverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “give”, an unfinished actionH5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] wi…לִֽידִיד֣וֹlididvoto amiableיְדִידpreposition, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to amiable”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3039lovedamiable, (well-) beloved, loves.שֵׁנָֽאshenasleepשֵׁנָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “sleep”, the ordinary formH8142sleepsleep.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

It is vain for you that ye rise early, and sit up late, ye that eat the bread of toil; so He giveth unto His beloved in sleep.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Douay-Rheims

For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

It is vain for you that ye rise early, and sit up late, ye that eat the bread of toil; so He giveth unto His beloved in sleep.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

It is vain for you to rise early: ye rise up after resting, ye that eat the bread of grief; while he gives sleep to his beloved.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Εἰς μάτην ὑμῖν ἐστι τὸ ὀρθρίζειν· ἐγείρεσθε μετὰ τὸ καθῆσθαι, οἱ ἐσθίοντες ἄρτον ὀδύνης, ὅταν δῷ τοῖς ἀγαπητοῖς αὐτοῦ ὕπνον.