PSALM 127-128 Joy In His Ways

Psalm 127 : 1   (Latin 126)  New Catholic Version 2002
If the LORD does not build the house,
those who construct it labour in vain.
If the LORD does not guard the city
those who keep watch over it do so in vain.

The parallel verses of the original Hebrew poetry
still serve to give emphasis and to make the
verse more memorable.

Three passages share the same "eating" figure of speech.

Psalm 127:2  AV        It is vain..........
                       to eat the bread of sorrows.

Psalm 42:3                 My tears have been
                       my meat day and night.

Psalm 128:2               thou shalt eat
                       the labour of thine hands.

As we make our bed, so must we lie on it.
Doing things "My way" may not be as beneficial
for ourselves and those who depend on us,
as doing things " His Way ".
Even  striving , in ones own strength
....as in building a house or guarding a city....
unless we are in harmony with God's intentions
we may be striving in vain.
On the other hand Psalm 128 shows us that those
who walk in His ways "shall eat the labour of thine hands"
From our own experience eating potatoes from
our own garden or tomatoes from our own glasshouse,
is very pleasing. In fact eating things we have baked
or cooked, is a joy.
Scripture shows the contrast between doing things
" My Way" in comparison to doing things "In His Ways".
Clearly this happiness depends on "marching on"
and even  "running in the LORD'S WAYS.

Like Psalm 1, Psalm 128 also promises that walking in
God's ways will make us happy and blessed.

Psalm 127:2 Tree of Life Version
for He provides for His  beloved ones
even in their sleep.

Job 11:18 NIV  
You will be secure, because there is hope.
You will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Psalm 128:1 NIV
Blessed are all who fear the Lord
who walk in His ways.

Psalm 128:4 NASB
Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.