2 The labour of thy hands thou surely eatest, Happy `art' thou, and good `is' to thee.
And it hath been, if Israel hath sowed, that Midian hath come up, and Amalek, and the sons of the east, yea, they have come up against him, and encamp against them, and destroy the increase of the land till thine entering Gaza; and they leave no sustenance in Israel, either sheep, or ox, or ass; for they and their cattle come up, with their tents; they come in as the fulness of the locust for multitude, and of them and of their cattle there is no number, and they come into the land to destroy it. And Israel is very weak from the presence of Midian, and the sons of Israel cry unto Jehovah.
Lo, that which I have seen: `It is' good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it `is' his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given wealth and riches, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to accept his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of God.
And they have built houses, and inhabited, And planted vineyards, and eaten their fruit. They do not build, and another inhabit, They do not plant, and another eat, For as the days of a tree `are' the days of My people, And the work of their hands wear out do My chosen ones. They labour not for a vain thing, Nor do they bring forth for trouble, For the seed of the blessed of Jehovah `are' they, And their offspring with them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 128
Commentary on Psalms 128 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 128
Ps 128:1-6. The temporal blessings of true piety. The eighth chapter of Zecariah is a virtual commentary on this Psalm. Compare Ps 128:3 with Zec 8:5; and Ps 128:2 with Le 26:16; De 28:33; Zec 8:10; and Ps 128:6 with Zec 8:4.
1. (Compare Ps 1:1).
2. For thou shalt eat—that is, It is a blessing to live on the fruits of one's own industry.
3. by the sides—or, "within" (Ps 48:2).
olive plants—are peculiarly luxuriant (Ps 52:8).
5. In temporal blessings the pious do not forget the richer blessings of God's grace, which they shall ever enjoy.
6. Long life crowns all other temporal favors. As Ps 125:5, this Psalm closes with a prayer for peace, with prosperity for God's people.