Psalms 127:2

KJV

[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.

KJV (with Strong's)

It is vain {H7723} for you to rise up {H6965} early {H7925}, to sit up {H3427} late {H309}, to eat {H398} the bread {H3899} of sorrows {H6089}: for so he giveth {H5414} his beloved {H3039} sleep {H8142}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In vain do you get up early and put off going to bed, working hard to earn a living; for he provides for his beloved, even when they sleep.

Berean Standard Bible

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.

American Standard Version

It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; Forso he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 127:2 offers a profound and counter-cultural insight into the nature of human endeavor and divine provision. It asserts the futility of relentless, anxious toil—characterized by early rising, late nights, and bitter labor—when undertaken apart from God's blessing. In stark contrast, the verse proclaims that the Lord graciously bestows peaceful rest and effortless provision upon those whom He loves, underscoring that true security and flourishing are not earned through human striving but are gifts from a sovereign and benevolent God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 127 is uniquely attributed to Solomon and stands as a pivotal "Song of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), a collection sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for annual feasts. This psalm is deeply intertwined with its preceding verse, [Psalms 127:1](/psalms/127-1 "Psalms 127:1 - The Lord Builds the House"), which declares, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." Verse 2 directly extends this theme of divine sovereignty over human effort, shifting from the building of houses and guarding of cities to the personal toil and anxiety of daily life. It forms a cohesive unit with [Psalms 127:1](/psalms/127-1 "Psalms 127:1 - The Lord Builds the House"), emphasizing that all aspects of life—from grand societal projects to individual sustenance—are ultimately dependent on God's blessing, not human exertion alone.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, life was characterized by demanding agricultural labor, constant vigilance against threats, and the foundational importance of family and lineage. The concept of "rising early" and "sitting up late" was a common idiom for intense, exhaustive work, often driven by the necessity of survival and the desire for prosperity. The "bread of sorrows" speaks to food acquired through painful, anxious, or burdensome labor, reflecting a life consumed by worry and unceasing effort. This was a society where hard work was valued, but the psalm challenges the notion that sheer human effort, divorced from divine favor, could truly secure lasting peace or provision. It subtly critiques the self-reliant worldview that might have permeated even a devout society, reminding them of their ultimate dependence on Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes central to the book of [Psalms](/psalms "The Book of Psalms - Songs and Prayers of Israel") and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **Futility of Self-Reliance**, asserting that anxious striving and exhaustive labor are ultimately "vain" (empty, worthless) without God's blessing. This resonates with wisdom literature that cautions against trusting in human strength alone (e.g., [Proverbs 21:30-31](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30-31 - No Wisdom Against the Lord")). Secondly, it emphasizes **Divine Provision and Rest**, portraying "sleep" not merely as physical slumber but as a metaphor for profound peace, security, and effortless provision that flows from trusting God. This theme of God providing rest for His people is echoed throughout Scripture, from the Sabbath command in [Exodus 20:8-11](/exodus/20-8 "Exodus 20:8-11 - Remember the Sabbath Day") to Jesus' invitation to find rest in Him in [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary"). Finally, the phrase "his beloved" underscores **God's Tender Love and Favor** for His chosen ones, implying that His provision is not a reward for toil but a gift of grace to those who are devoted to Him, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant faithfulness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Vain (Hebrew, _shav'_):** This term signifies emptiness, futility, worthlessness, or vanity. It is often used in the Old Testament to describe that which is without substance, purpose, or lasting value. In this context, it powerfully conveys that all the strenuous, anxious effort described—rising early, sitting late, eating the bread of sorrows—is ultimately unproductive and yields no true, enduring benefit or peace if God's blessing is absent. It implies a striving that is ultimately hollow and unsatisfying.
* **Bread of Sorrows (Hebrew, _lechem ha'atzavim'_):** This vivid phrase literally means "bread of pains" or "bread of anxieties." It is a powerful metaphor for food (and by extension, sustenance and livelihood) that is acquired through painful, sorrowful, or anxious labor. It paints a picture of a life consumed by worry, stress, and unceasing effort, where even the most basic necessity—food—is tainted by the bitterness of relentless toil and the absence of peace. It speaks to the emotional and spiritual cost of self-reliant striving.
* **Sleep (Hebrew, _shena'_):** While literally referring to physical slumber, in this poetic and theological context, "sleep" carries a far richer meaning. It symbolizes profound peace, security, and effortless provision that comes as a divine gift. It is a state of tranquil assurance, a release from anxiety and the burden of self-sufficiency. Unlike the restless toil of the self-reliant, God's beloved are granted a restful assurance, knowing that He is actively working on their behalf, providing what is needed without their anxious striving. This "sleep" is a manifestation of divine blessing and a sign of God's care.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late":** This clause describes the relentless, exhaustive human effort. "Rising up early" and "sitting up late" form a merism, encompassing the entirety of a day's (and by extension, a life's) anxious, unceasing toil. The declaration that this is "vain" immediately establishes the psalm's central argument: such striving, when devoid of divine blessing, is ultimately futile and unproductive in achieving true peace or security. It highlights the inherent limitation of human effort when detached from God's sovereignty.
* **"to eat the bread of sorrows":** This phrase further elaborates on the consequence and character of such vain toil. The "bread of sorrows" vividly portrays a life where even sustenance is acquired through painful, anxious, and burdensome labor. It implies that the very means of survival are steeped in worry and bitterness, leading to a life that is not truly satisfying or restful, but rather marked by perpetual struggle and grief. This is the fruit of self-reliant striving.
* **"[for] so he giveth his beloved sleep":** This is the climactic and contrasting statement, offering the divine antidote to human futility. The conjunction "for so" (or "indeed") introduces the alternative: God's gracious provision. "His beloved" refers to those who are cherished by God, those who trust in Him and are devoted to Him. To these, God "gives sleep"—a profound, comprehensive rest that encompasses peace, security, and effortless provision. This "sleep" is a divine gift, not an earned reward, signifying that God works on behalf of His faithful ones, providing for them in ways that transcend their anxious efforts and allowing them to experience true rest and freedom from worry.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 127:2 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Antithetical Parallelism**, where the first part of the verse describes the futility of human toil ("vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows"), directly contrasting it with the second part, which highlights God's gracious provision of rest ("for so he giveth his beloved sleep"). This stark contrast underscores the psalm's central argument: human striving without God is empty, while God's blessing brings peace. **Merism** is evident in the phrase "rise up early, to sit up late," which encompasses the entirety of a day's, or even a lifetime's, exhaustive and anxious labor, symbolizing relentless effort. Furthermore, the verse uses powerful **Metaphor**: "the bread of sorrows" is a metaphor for a life of anxious, painful toil, where even sustenance is bitter. Conversely, "sleep" serves as a profound metaphor for divine peace, security, and effortless provision, signifying a restful trust in God's sovereignty rather than mere physical slumber. These devices combine to create a vivid and memorable statement about the source of true peace and provision.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 127:2 is a profound theological statement on divine sovereignty, human dependence, and the nature of true rest. It challenges the inherent human tendency towards self-reliance and anxious striving, asserting that ultimate security and provision do not come from endless toil but from God's gracious hand. The verse teaches that God's love for "his beloved" manifests in a unique kind of peace and provision that transcends human effort, freeing believers from the burden of self-sufficiency. This "sleep" represents a deep spiritual rest, a confident trust that God is at work on their behalf, allowing them to cease from frantic striving. It underscores that God desires not merely our labor, but our trust, and in that trust, He bestows true blessing and peace.

* [Matthew 6:25-34](/matthew/6-25 "Matthew 6:25-34 - Do Not Worry About Your Life")
* [Philippians 4:6-7](/philippians/4-6 "Philippians 4:6-7 - Do Not Be Anxious About Anything")
* [Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - The Promise of Rest Remains")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 127:2 serves as a timeless antidote to the pervasive anxieties and relentless striving of modern life. In a culture that often equates busyness with importance and success with self-made achievement, this verse offers a radical counter-narrative. It calls us to re-evaluate our priorities, challenging the notion that our security, provision, or well-being are solely dependent on our exhaustive efforts. Instead, it invites us into a posture of trust and dependence on a sovereign God who delights in providing for His beloved. Embracing the truth of this psalm means learning to release the burden of anxious striving, recognizing that true rest is not merely physical cessation from work, but a spiritual peace that comes from knowing God is actively working on our behalf. It encourages us to cultivate a life marked by faith-filled diligence rather than fretful striving, understanding that God's blessing is the ultimate source of all good things, allowing us to find true rest even amidst life's demands.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you most prone to "rise up early, to sit up late" and "eat the bread of sorrows" due to anxiety or self-reliance?**
* **What does "sleep" (as a metaphor for peace and divine provision) look like in your daily life, and how can you intentionally cultivate more of it?**
* **How might a deeper trust in God's provision free you from the need to constantly strive and worry?**
* **What practical steps can you take to align your efforts more with God's blessing and less with anxious self-sufficiency?**

### FAQ
**Does "sleep" in this verse only refer to physical rest, or does it have a deeper meaning?**

Answer: While physical sleep is certainly part of God's good design for humanity and a necessary component of rest, in Psalms 127:2, "sleep" (Hebrew: _shena_) carries a much deeper, metaphorical meaning. It symbolizes profound peace, security, and effortless provision that comes as a divine gift. It represents a state of tranquil assurance, a release from anxiety, and the burden of self-sufficiency. It's the kind of rest that allows one to cease from anxious striving, knowing that God is actively working on their behalf. This spiritual "sleep" is a manifestation of divine blessing, a gift to "his beloved," signifying a trust-filled cessation from worry, rather than merely physical slumber. It contrasts sharply with the "bread of sorrows" that characterizes anxious toil.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 127:2 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "sleep" that God gives to His beloved is perfectly embodied in the rest that Christ offers. While humanity labors under the "bread of sorrows," burdened by sin and the futility of self-salvation, Jesus extends an invitation: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and [I will give you rest](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus Offers Rest")." He is the true source of this divine "sleep," not just physical rest, but spiritual peace and security that frees us from the anxious toil of trying to earn God's favor or secure our own future. His finished work on the cross means we no longer need to "rise up early, to sit up late" in a vain attempt to achieve righteousness or peace; rather, we enter into His rest, a cessation from our own works, as described in [Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - Entering God's Rest"). Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore our sorrows and anxieties, allowing us to experience the peace that "surpasses all understanding" ([Philippians 4:7](/philippians/4-7 "Philippians 4:7 - The Peace of God")). Through Him, God truly "gives his beloved sleep"—a deep, abiding peace rooted in His perfect provision and sovereign care, freeing us from the futility of self-reliance and the bitterness of anxious striving.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ecclesiastes 5:12

The 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 4:8

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Job 11:18

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

Psalms 3:5

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Jeremiah 31:26

Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

Ecclesiastes 2:20

Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.