128:1 «A
Song of degrees.» Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in
his a ways.
(a) God approves not our life, unless it is
reformed according to his word.
128:2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine b
hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.
(b) The world esteems them happy who live in
wealth and idleness but the Holy Spirit approves them best who live of the
mean profit of their labours.
128:3 Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the
sides of thine house: thy c children
like olive plants round about thy table.
(c) Because God's favour appears in no outward
thing more than in the increase of children, he promises to enrich the
faithful with this gift.
128:5 The LORD shall d
bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of e
Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
(d) Because of the spiritual blessing which God
has made to his Church, these temporal things will be granted.
(e) For unless God blessed his Church publicly,
this private blessing was nothing.
Psalm 128 Bible Commentary
The Geneva Study Bible
(a) God approves not our life, unless it is reformed according to his word.
128:2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine b hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.
(b) The world esteems them happy who live in wealth and idleness but the Holy Spirit approves them best who live of the mean profit of their labours.
128:3 Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy c children like olive plants round about thy table.
(c) Because God's favour appears in no outward thing more than in the increase of children, he promises to enrich the faithful with this gift.
128:5 The LORD shall d bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of e Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
(d) Because of the spiritual blessing which God has made to his Church, these temporal things will be granted.
(e) For unless God blessed his Church publicly, this private blessing was nothing.