1 A song of ascents. Of Solomon. If the LORD does not build a house, its builders have labored on it for emptiness. If the LORD does not keep a city, the keeper has kept watch for emptiness.
Evagrius Ponticus · AD 399 The cowl is a symbol of the charity of God our Savior. It protects the most important part of the body and keeps us, who are children in Christ, warm. Thus it can be said to afford protection against those who attempt to strike and wound us.
Jerome · AD 420 Atticus: Therefore, they are wrong in their thinking who rule out the help of God in every single action that we perform and who seek to twist the true meaning to other meanings by putting forth interpretations that are perverted, nay more, worthy of ridicule, on the following passage: "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 But that which is the house of God is also a city. For the house of God is the people of God; for the house of God is the temple of God....This is Jerusalem: she has guards: as she has builders, labouring at her building up, so also has she guards.
Children Are a Heritage from the LORD 2 It is emptiness for you, rising early, sitting late, eating the bread of toil — so he gives to his beloved in sleep.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 If we wish to be guarded by Him who was humbled for our sakes, and who was exalted to keep us, let us be humble. Let no one assume anything unto himself. No man hath any good, except he hath received it from Him who alone is good. But he who chooseth to arrogate wisdom unto himself, is a fool. Let him be humble, that wisdom may come, and may enlighten him.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 But what kind of fruit they ought to bring forth is added: "And your fruit should remain." Everything for which we labor according to the present age barely suffices until death. For death intervening cuts off the fruit of our labor. But what is done for eternal life is preserved even after death; and it begins to appear when the fruit of carnal labors has begun to disappear.
Bernard of Clairvaux · AD 1153 He whose gaze is held by the darkness cannot see the light. Bitterness holds him in its grip, the unpleasant recollection of his sins preoccupies his memory to the exclusion of every joyful thought.
3 See, sons are an inheritance from the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 As if thou shouldest ask again, who are the beloved? "Lo, children, the reward of the fruit of the womb, are an heritage of the Lord" [Psalm 127:3]. Since he saith, "fruit of the womb," these children have been born in travail. There is a certain woman, in whom what was said unto Eve, "in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children," is shown after a spiritual manner.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the sons of one’s youth.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one, even so are the children of those that are shot out" [Psalm 127:4]. Whence has sprung this heritage, brethren? Whence has sprung so numerous a heritage? Some have been shot out from the Lord's hand, as arrows, and have gone far, and have filled the whole earth, whence the Saints spring.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 These apostles are the children of them that have been shaken. The Psalm reads: "As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken." The apostolical order corresponds to the Father as He is in the Holy Spirit. In the patriarchs, there was stability of faith, in the prophets, clarity of knowledge, and in the apostles, the warmth of love.
5 Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Blessed is the man who has filled his desire from them" [Psalm 127:5]. Well, my brethren, who fills his desire from them? Who loves not the world. He who is filled with the desire of the world, has no room for that to enter which they have preached. Pour forth what you carry, and become fit for that which you have not.