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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.
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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
Si le Seigneur n'édifie pas la demeure, en vain ont travaillé ceux qui l'édifient. Si le Seigneur ne garde pas la cité, vainement veille celui la défend. Il est vain pour vous de vous lever avant la lumière, de vous lever après s'être reposés vous qui mangez le pain de la douleur. Car il a donné le sommeil à celui qu'il aime : voici l'héritage du Seigneur, des fils ; la récompense, le fruit des entrailles. Comme les flèches dans la main de l'homme puissant, ainsi sont les fils de la jeunesse. Heureux l'homme qui satisfait son désir par eux-mêmes : il ne sera pas confondu quand l'ennemi frappera à sa porte.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Latin to French (Français) copyright © 2009 by Guy Laffaille, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , "Psalmus 126 (127)"
This text was added to the website: 2009-12-19
Line count: 9
Word count: 109