Psalm 127:1,2 - Living With Jesus

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except
the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  It is vain for you
to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he
giveth his beloved sleep. Psa 127:1,2 (KJV)

If the Lord is not the builder of our house, the efforts of the workers are
useless.  If the Lord does not protect us from evil, it does no good for us
to be on guard.  If the Lord does not shield our cities and homeland from
invading armies, there's no point in having sentries on duty.  Unless the
Lord is in it, it's useless to get up early for devotions or to work hard
for a living; it's useless to stay up late to study or work without God
being present.  He's the One who blesses and gives us food while we sleep.
Psa 127:1,2 (CWB)

Man's labor is in vain unless God is in it [New Bible Companion]

Everything is vain if the Lord is not in it. [Believer's SB]

Though work is necessary, without the blessing of God it is futile. [Ryrie
SB]

Life should be lived in dependence on the Lord [Ryrie SB]

Don't make the mistake of leaving God out of your life--if you do, all your
accomplishments will be futile. Make God your highest priority, and let him
do the building. [Life Application SB]

God is not against human effort. Hard work honors God (Proverbs 31:10-29).
But working to the exclusion of rest or to the neglect of family may be a
cover-up for an inability to trust God to provide for our needs. We all need
adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. On the other hand, this
verse is not an excuse to be lazy (Proverbs 18:9). Be careful to maintain a
balance: work while trusting God, and also rest while trusting him. [Life
Application SB]

Accomplishments in life, of whatever dimension, come as the result of God's
gift. He provides the skill for accomplishment and allows us to complete
projects we start. This does not call us to idleness in the face of His
sovereignty but to gratitude as we labor with Him to accomplish His purposes
on earth. [Disciple SB]

If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing, and
without his blessing all is nothing. (Matthew Henry's Commentary)

Usually, those that rise early do not care for sitting up late, nor can
those that sit up late easily persuade themselves to rise early; but there
are some so hot upon the world that they will do both, will rob their sleep
to pay their cares. And they have as little comfort in their meals as in
their rest; they eat the bread of sorrows. (Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The point is that work done independently of God will be futile. But a
person who trusts in the Lord will find rest. Without the Lord, all domestic
work is in vain. . . . .this verse stresses that to work long days without
divine providence and support is futile. [Bible Knowledge Commentary]

The emphasis is placed upon the futility of human effort without God's help.
. . . .Man's utter dependence on God is illustrated by reference to basic
human endeavors. Building a house and watching over a city cannot succeed
(according to divine standards of success) if God is not included in man's
plans and efforts. Even the diligent man who works from early morning until
late evening cannot hope for success without God's blessings and sanction.
[Wycliffe Bible Commentary]

While, therefore, ye are not slothful in business, be fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord; for there is no success either in spiritual or secular
undertakings but in consequence of the benediction of the Almighty. (Adam
Clarke Commentary)

While the wisdom teacher does not reject hard work (Prov. 6:6ff.; 10:4, 5),
he humbly acknowledges that hard work cannot guarantee results. God alone is
the one who distributes consequences, and hence it is he who is to be feared
(Prov. 1:7). [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]