Psalms 127:2

It is vain, &c.— It is vain for you, ye that rise early, and late take rest: that eat the bread of fatigue: it is thus he giveth sleep to his beloved. Mudge: who observes, that the words, it is thus he giveth, and behold, in the next verse, evidently point, as he suggests in the note on the title, to a particular person whom God had blessed, without which all endeavours are vain. Some render the last clause, Since he giveth to his beloved sleep: but Green translates the passage, "It is in vain for you to rise up, &c.—unless the Lord bless your endeavours: whereas he giveth to his beloved even while they sleep." The plain meaning seems to be, that God affords and bestows to his beloved, or to good men, rest and comfort of life; and withal provides as much wealth for them and their families, as is best for them; and indeed, much more genuine wealth, than they can procure who incessantly harass and fatigue themselves, and deny themselves the enjoyment of all worldly comforts, in order to enrich their posterity. Mr. Merrick seems to have expressed it well in his paraphrase:

Why rise ye early, late take rest, And eat the bread of care? The balm of sleep, his gift confest, His children only share.