Psalms 127:2

“[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, etc.] A description of an industrious and laborious person, who takes great pains to get a livelihood, or increase his substance; (see <19A423>Psalm 104:23) (<203115>Proverbs 31:15,18); which, yet, as in the former instances, depends upon the blessing of divine Providence, (<201004>Proverbs 10:4,22 <210911> Ecclesiastes 9:11). For, after all, it may come to nothing more at last than to eat the bread of sorrows; that is, to eat bread gotten with much sorrow and labour; such get bread, and that is all, and not that without the providence of God; [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep; that is, the Lord: such who are partakers of his grace,…”

“It is vain for you to rise up early - The psalmist does not here say that it is improper to rise early; or that there could be no advantage in it; or that people would be more likely to be successful in their undertakings if they did not rise early; but that, although this was done, they would be still altogether dependent on God. Mere early rising, without his blessing, would not secure what they hoped to accomplish, for everything is still in the hand of God. Health, strength, clearness of mind, and success, are all under his control; and though early rising may tend to produce all these - as it does in fact - yet still people are not the less dependent on God for success. To sit up late -…”

“You - Builders, or watchmen. To sit - To use constant and unwearied diligence. So - By his blessing. Giveth - Freely, without that immoderate toiling, wherewith others pursue it. Psalms 127:3”

“vain: Psa 39:5, Psa 39:6; Ecc 1:14, Ecc 2:1-11, Ecc 2:20-23, Ecc 4:8 rise up: Pro 31:15-18 the bread: Gen 3:17-19; Ecc 6:7 for so he: Psa 3:5, Psa 4:8; Ecc 5:12; Jer 31:26; Eze 34:25; Act 12:5, Act 12:6 Psalms 127:3”