Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
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.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Bible or other Sacred Texts , "Psalmus 126 (127)" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Henry Du Mont (1610 - 1684), "Nisi Dominus" [ chorus ], motet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville (1711 - 1772), "Nisi Dominus ædificavit", first performed 1743 [sung text checked 1 time]
The text above (or a part of it) is used in the following settings:
- by Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741), "Nisi dominus", RV. 608
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) , "Psalm 126 (127)" ; composed by W. E. Bojanus, Heinrich Schütz.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Grant Hicks) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-05
Line count: 9
Word count: 76
1 [A song of degrees, of Solomon.] Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, those who guard it watch to no purpose. 2 In vain do you rise before the dawn: rise after you have sat down, you who eat the bread of sorrow. When he has given sleep to those he loves, 3 behold the inheritance of the Lord, children; his reward, the fruit of the womb. 4 Like arrows in the hand of the mighty are the children of those who are cast down. 5 Blessed is the man who has filled his need with them: he will not be confounded when he speaks to enemies at the gate.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Nisi Dominus" = "Unless the Lord"
"Nisi Dominus ædificavit" = "Unless the Lord builds"
"Psalmus 126 (127)" = "Psalm 126 (127)"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , "Psalmus 126 (127)"
This text was added to the website: 2026-01-05
Line count: 9
Word count: 123