---
title: "Psalm 126 (127) – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/psalms/126/
description: "Psalm 126 (Psalm 127 in Hebrew numbering) in the CPDV, with the Latin Vulgate. Nisi Dominus. Nothing can be done without God's grace and blessing."
---

# Psalm 126 (127)

Psalm 126 in the Vulgate numbering Bless follows is Psalm 127 in Hebrew numbering (the NABRE, RSV and KJV). Here are all 5 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Nisi Dominus. Nothing can be done without God's grace and blessing.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Psalm 126 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. A Canticle in steps: of Solomon. Unless the Lord has built the house, those who build it have labored in vain. Unless the Lord has guarded the city, he who guards it watches in vain.
2. It is in vain that you rise before daylight, that you rise up after you have sat down, you who chew the bread of sorrow. Whereas, to his beloved, he will give sleep.
3. Behold, the inheritance of the Lord is sons, the reward is the fruit of the womb.
4. Like arrows in the hand of the powerful, so are the sons of those who have been cast out.
5. Blessed is the man who has filled his desire from these things. He will not be confounded when he speaks to his enemies at the gate.

## Psalm 126 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Canticum graduum Salomonis. Nisi Dominus ædificaverit domum, in vanum laboraverunt qui ædificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, frustra vigilat qui custodit eam.
2. Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum,
3. ecce hæreditas Domini, filii; merces, fructus ventris.
4. Sicut sagittæ in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum.
5. Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.

## The saints

- “We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success, nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.” — St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Letters, c. 1900 (On this theme: verse 1)

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 2: 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.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).